German Court Rules AI Music Generator Suno Liable for Copyright Infringement

Summary

On July 31, 2026, the Munich Regional Court ruled that AI music generator Suno violated copyright law by unlawfully obtaining, processing, and reproducing songs from GEMA's (German licensing agency) repertoire without licenses to train its AI models. The case, filed in January 2025, alleged that Suno used copyrighted works including songs by Boney M, Lou Bega, and Alphaville without permission or compensation to creators. The court found violations of both German and US copyright law.

The ruling marks a significant legal precedent for the AI industry, establishing that AI companies must license music from copyright holders before using it for training data. GEMA's CEO Dr Tobias Holzmüller stated that 'AI models built on stolen intellectual property have no protection under the law,' while board chairman Dr Ralf Weigand emphasized that the decision sends 'a powerful international message' that creativity must be valued and creators' rights respected in the age of artificial intelligence.

Suno has announced its intention to appeal the decision and does not agree with the court's ruling. The company will owe damages to GEMA, though the specific amount has not yet been determined. This case follows Suno's 2025 settlement with Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group, which resulted in a licensing deal. The decision also positions GEMA to enforce licensing requirements against other AI companies using its repertoire.

• Other AI companies must now license music from GEMA's repertoire of over 100,000 creators going forward
• The decision reflects growing legal protection for creators' rights and comes amid similar copyright cases against OpenAI and other AI firms