BUSINESS

New York: Sony sues Udio over 30,000 songs

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Sony Music Entertainment has filed a new federal copyright infringement lawsuit in New York against AI music generation platform Udio, alleging the unauthorized use of 30,117 copyrighted sound recordings to train its generative models. The case, brought on July 21, 2026, marks an escalation in the recording industry’s legal campaign against AI developers over training data. It follows a June 2024 lawsuit by Sony, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group against Udio and rival Suno. After Judge Alvin Hellerstein refused to allow Sony to add approximately 30,000 songs to that earlier case, Sony initiated this separate action focused on the disputed recordings.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

June 2024 major labels sue Udio, Suno collectively
June 2024 Sony details 30,000 allegedly infringed songs
Late 2024 Sony seeks to amend original complaint
Late 2024 Judge Hellerstein denies amendment request
Early 2025 Sony plans separate targeted infringement case
Mid 2026 complaint finalized listing 30,117 tracks
July 21, 2026 Sony files new federal lawsuit
Today case intensifies music industry–AI legal conflict

Why This Matters to You

This lawsuit could shape how AI uses music. If Sony wins, AI developers might need licenses to use songs for training. This could slow down AI music innovation. Check if your favorite music apps use AI. They might change.

The Bottom Line

Sony's lawsuit is a big move in the music industry's fight against AI. It's about protecting copyrights and controlling AI's use of music. Worth forwarding if you know someone in the music or tech industry.