The German collecting society GEMA has filed a lawsuit against Suno, alleging copyright infringement.

GEMA claims to represent the rights of approximately 95,000 members in Germany, including composers and lyricists, as well as over two million rights holders globally.

GEMA argues that Suno's tool generates music that closely resembles these famous songs in melody, harmony, and rhythm.

There are ongoing uncertainties about the legal foundations for training AI with copyrighted materials, particularly due to a 2019 exception in EU law.

Suno, a $500 million AI music generator, is facing significant controversy and legal challenges in the music industry.

The lawsuit targets specific songs, including "Forever Young" by Alphaville, "Atemlos" by Kristina Bach, and "Daddy Cool" by Boney M.

Through this lawsuit, GEMA aims to increase pressure on generative AI services and establish legal clarity regarding copyright issues.

This case follows a previous lawsuit by GEMA against OpenAI in November 2024, which involved the use of song lyrics.

While damages awarded in Europe may be less than in the U.S., this case could set a precedent on whether AI firms must license copyrighted works for training their software.

Dr. Ralf Weigand, GEMA's Supervisory Board Chairman, warned that AI-generated music competes with human-created works, threatening their economic viability.

GEMA's General Counsel, Dr. Kai Welp, emphasized the need for AI providers to adhere to copyright laws and ensure fair compensation for creators.

As of now, Suno has not issued a statement regarding the lawsuit.