Suno’s Greatest Hit: Pretending Copyright Doesn’t Exist
The Fair Use Fairy Tale: How ‘Innovation’ Became a License to Steal Music
So, What’s the Deal?
Suno, an AI music startup, is under fire for training its models on copyrighted music without permission. They’re facing lawsuits from major labels like Universal, Sony, and Warner, who allege massive copyright infringement. Success Knocks
Suno’s Defense: “It’s Fair Use!”
Suno claims that using copyrighted music to train AI models falls under “fair use.” They argue it’s akin to a kid learning to write songs by listening to music. The Verge
Why This Defense Falls Flat
- Not Transformative: Fair use requires the new work to add something new or alter the original with new expression. Suno’s AI doesn’t create transformative works; it generates music that closely mimics existing songs.
- Commercial Use: Suno is a for-profit company. Using copyrighted material for commercial gain without permission weakens the fair use claim.TechRadar+1Wikipedia+1
- Market Harm: By generating music that competes with original artists, Suno potentially harms the market for those original works.Music Business Worldwide+6The Verge+6Pitchfork+6
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about one company. If Suno’s defense holds, it could set a precedent allowing AI companies to use copyrighted material without compensation, undermining artists’ rights.
Conclusion
Suno’s “fair use” claim seems more like a convenient excuse than a solid legal defense. Innovation shouldn’t come at the expense of artists’ rights.
