Sony Files Additional Copyright Lawsuit Against Udio Over 30,000 Songs

Sony Music Entertainment has filed a new copyright infringement lawsuit against AI music generation startup Udio. According to a report by Emma Roth of The Verge, Sony claims that Udio infringed on the copyrights of more than 30,000 songs from its catalog. The alleged works include classics such as Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog,” Beyoncé’s “Say My Name,” and Harry Styles’ “As It Was.”

The lawsuit was filed on July 20, 2026, in a New York court. In its filings, Sony asserted that the list of songs represents “only a fraction of the plaintiff’s works that Udio has infringed.” This development was first reported by Music Business Worldwide.

Background of the Lawsuit

In 2024, Sony, in collaboration with Universal Music Group and Warner Records, filed an initial lawsuit against Udio and the similar AI music generator Suno. The first lawsuit accused Udio of infringing on the copyrights of 333 works.

The turning point in the latest legal action came after Sony gained access to Udio’s training data during the discovery phase of the initial lawsuit. Using “audio fingerprinting” technology, Sony identified additional songs that had allegedly been “copied and incorporated” into Udio’s generative AI model. Although Sony initially sought to add the more than 30,000 songs to the original lawsuit, a judge dismissed the motion, prompting Sony to file this as a new case.

Sony has hinted that the scope of the new lawsuit could expand further, pointing out that Udio has admitted its generative AI model was “built by exposing it to a vast array of diverse recordings.” These training datasets reportedly included songs sourced from platforms like YouTube.

Udio’s Current Status and Industry Shifts

Since the 2024 lawsuit, the music industry has undergone significant changes. Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group have settled with Udio and even established partnerships with the company. While the music industry moves toward integrating AI technologies, Sony has opted to continue its legal battle independently.

Udio, launched in early 2024, is an AI music generation platform that allows users to create songs by simply inputting text prompts. Alongside Suno, it has been one of the most heavily criticized AI services within the music industry due to allegations of unauthorized use of existing songs for training purposes.

Measures Sought by Sony

Sony is asking the court to issue an injunction prohibiting Udio from infringing on its copyrighted works and is seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringing work. If all 30,000 songs are included, the theoretical total damages could reach $4.5 billion. However, experts believe it is unlikely the full amount will be awarded in a potential ruling.

In its filings, Sony has specifically detailed Udio’s training methodology, citing the company’s admission that its model was built by exposing it to “a vast array of diverse recordings.” This strikes at the heart of the debate over whether AI companies are unlawfully using copyrighted data for training.

Legal Challenges Surrounding AI Music Generation

This lawsuit exemplifies the tension between generative AI and copyright law. The music industry has long grappled with the issue of AI using existing songs without permission as training data. From 2023 to 2024, major record labels like Universal Music Group intensified efforts to have AI-generated tracks removed from streaming platforms.

On the other hand, AI startups have argued that their training practices fall within the bounds of “fair use.” The cases of Udio and Suno are bringing the unresolved question of whether AI training processes constitute copyright infringement into the courtroom.

The U.S. Copyright Office has also been addressing the issue. While it has released several sets of guidelines regarding AI-generated content, it has yet to establish clear rules on the use of training data. The outcome of this lawsuit could significantly influence the development of such regulations.

Public Disclosure of the Song List

In this lawsuit, Sony has made public the full list of songs that it claims Udio has infringed upon. This list, available as part of the court records, is a vital resource for industry stakeholders and researchers. It includes over 30,000 songs, featuring works by many of Sony Music’s leading artists.

Sony’s firm stance may inspire other music publishers and record labels to take similar legal actions. As AI music generation tools rapidly proliferate, the music industry is closely watching how rights holders will respond to the challenges posed by unauthorized use of copyrighted works.

Broader Implications of AI Training Data Issues

Lawsuits over AI training data are not limited to the music industry. Since 2023, writers, visual artists, and media organizations in the U.S. have filed class-action lawsuits against AI companies. These include cases against Stability AI, the developer of the image-generation tool Stable Diffusion, and GitHub Copilot, a code-generation AI.

The music industry faces unique challenges because musical works involve dual rights: copyright for the composition and neighboring rights for performance. While Sony’s lawsuit primarily focuses on the copyrights of sound recordings, the rights of songwriters could also become a significant issue.

Large companies like Sony, with both record labels and music publishing divisions, are well-positioned to enforce their rights. Given the financial constraints faced by individual artists and smaller publishers, major corporations like Sony may play a crucial role in shaping the legal framework for AI and copyright.

Editorial Opinion

In the short term, this lawsuit is likely to have a significant impact on the AI music generation market. The prolonged litigation could stall Udio’s operations. Furthermore, the figure of 30,000 songs cited by Sony highlights the vast scale at which AI companies are allegedly using copyrighted data without authorization. This could spur other rights holders to file similar lawsuits, potentially hindering the ability of AI music startups to secure funding and expand their businesses. The industry will urgently need to establish a framework for clearing AI training data rights.

From a long-term perspective, this lawsuit could set new legal benchmarks for the relationship between AI and copyright law. Past court decisions have upheld “fair use” for practices like web indexing by search engines and book scanning by libraries, but AI’s use of music for training represents a qualitatively different issue. If courts rule that AI training processes constitute copyright infringement, AI companies may be forced to develop entirely new business models. Notably, the relatively well-established systems for metadata and rights management in the music industry could pave the way for the creation of a licensing market tailored for AI use.

References

• “Here are the 30,000 songs Sony is suing Udio’s AI music generator over”, by Emma Roth — The Verge, 2026-07-20T22:19:12.000Z (ARR)
• Source URL: https://www.theverge.com/tech/968375/sony-udio-lawsuit-songs-ai-copyright