Sony Files Second Lawsuit Against Udio Over 30,117 Unlicensed Recordings

Sony Music Entertainment has filed a second copyright infringement suit against the AI music‑generation platform Udio, targeting 30,117 sound recordings that the label claims were used without permission to train Udio’s models.

The new action follows a June 29, 2026 ruling that denied Sony’s request to add the recordings to its first lawsuit, which was filed in New York in June 2024. The judge’s decision noted that plaintiffs can seek to stop infringement and recover damages for all copyrighted works, but that such claims need not be brought in the same suit. Sony cites that language as the basis for the separate complaint.

The first lawsuit was part of a coordinated effort by Sony, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, organized by the Recording Industry Association of America. Universal and Warner later settled and entered licensing agreements with Udio, leaving Sony as the only major label without a deal.

In the new complaint, Sony alleges that Udio used audio‑fingerprinting software during discovery to identify 30,117 recordings in its training data. The list includes works by Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Johnny Cash and Harry Styles, among others. Sony argues that the number represents only a small portion of the material Udio used without authorization.

"Udio’s belated embrace of licensing only underscores the unlawfulness of its decision to copy Plaintiffs’ copyrighted sound recordings, without a license, in the first place," the complaint states.

Udio, founded in December 2023 by former DeepMind researchers and led by CEO David Ding, launched a free beta on April 10, 2024. The platform offers paid subscriptions that unlock additional features such as audio inpainting. Backers include Andreessen Horowitz, will.i.am and Common.

The lawsuit is filed in the Southern District of New York. Sony seeks damages for the alleged infringement of the 30,117 recordings and asserts that Udio’s training practices violated copyright law.

Sony’s complaint is available for public review. The label’s legal team argues that the recordings were used without a license and that Udio’s subsequent licensing agreements do not retroactively legitimize the prior use.

The case highlights the broader industry debate over the use of copyrighted music as training data for generative AI. While Universal and Warner have moved to license their catalogs to Udio, Sony has not yet entered into a licensing arrangement.

The lawsuit is the latest development in a series of legal actions involving AI music generators. Earlier in 2024, the RIAA filed a joint suit against Udio and Suno, alleging widespread copyright infringement.

Sony’s second suit underscores the label’s insistence that its catalog remains protected and that any use of its recordings in AI training must be authorized. The outcome of the case could influence how AI platforms source and license music in the future.

The current status is that the lawsuit is pending in federal court. No settlement has been announced, and the parties have not released statements beyond the filed complaint.

The case remains a key point of reference for creators, producers and developers working with AI‑generated music, as it clarifies the legal boundaries of training data usage.