# Sony sues Udio's AI music generator over 30,000 songs Copyright infringement claims span from Beyoncé to Elvis Presley's iconic tracks. - **Source:** [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-20 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4db2108d-dae2-452e-a35a-c9911842eb77 ## Case Overview Sony Music Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against AI music generator Udio, alleging copyright infringement of over 30,000 songs. The list includes works from legendary artists like Elvis Presley to contemporary stars like Beyoncé. Sony claims Udio used these tracks to train its AI models without authorization. ## Scope of the Lawsuit Initially limited to 333 works, Sony expanded its claims after examining Udio's training data through an 'audio fingerprinting' technique. The company identified over 30,000 allegedly copied songs, though a judge rejected the motion to broaden the original lawsuit's scope. ## Industry Stance While major labels like Universal and Warner have settled with Udio and embraced AI collaboration, Sony continues its legal battle. This reflects the growing divide in the music industry regarding AI's role in content creation and copyright issues. ## Technical Allegations Sony alleges Udio trained its models using 'vast amounts of sound recordings' from sources including YouTube without proper licensing. The company seeks up to $150,000 per infringed work and aims to block Udio from using Sony's catalog in its AI systems. ## Legal Proceedings The case continues in New York courts, where Sony seeks injunctions and damages. Udio's defense strategy remains unclear, but the outcome could set important precedents for AI-generated content and intellectual property rights in creative industries. ## Industry Implications This lawsuit highlights the tension between AI advancement and copyright protection in creative fields. Sony's aggressive stance contrasts with other labels' collaborative approach, showcasing divergent strategies in adapting to technological disruption in the music business. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theverge.com/tech/968375/sony-udio-lawsuit-songs-ai-copyright — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._