From Music Business Worldwide · · 1m 30s
UMG and Sony Demand DistroKid Share AI Music Data
Universal Music Group and Sony seek court order to force DistroKid to disclose AI music distribution data for Suno copyright case.
In brief
Universal Music Group and Sony seek court order to force DistroKid to disclose AI music distribution data for Suno copyright case. UMG and Sony want DistroKid to provide monthly AI music distribution records to prove Suno's copyright infringement claims. Originally reported by Music Business Worldwide.
Labels file motion for data
Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment asked a federal judge to compel DistroKid to hand over AI music distribution data for their copyright case against Suno.
“refuses to produce a single document”
DistroKid's response
DistroKid described a third-party prediction model it uses to test recordings for ai generation and made statements about false positives in its October 9 supplemental response.
“one of the primary conduits by which the streaming market is being flooded with ai-generated recordings”
Data requested
The labels want DistroKid to produce monthly records of ai music delivered to streaming services, tested recordings, and how many the model scored as ai-generated.
“how many recordings it delivered to streaming services”
Suno's defense
Suno claims training its models on copyrighted recordings is quintessential fair use and one of the questions a court asks when weighing that defense is whether the use harms the market for original works.
“quintessential fair use”
Market impact
The labels argue ai music competes with human recordings for placement, discovery, listener attention, and fixed royalty pools from which genuine artists are paid.
“every machine-generated track delivered to a streaming service competes with the copyrighted recordings”
DistroKid's objection
DistroKid claims ai music shipment volumes tell courts little about whether suno broke the law when building its models.
“how much ai music it ships to streaming services tells a court little about whether suno broke the law”
Legal deadline
DistroKid must provide the requested documents by October 30 to respond to the labels' motion for data.
“until october 30”
The takeaway
UMG and Sony want DistroKid to provide monthly AI music distribution records to prove Suno's copyright infringement claims.
