Suno's Legal Détente Arrives as GEMA Lawsuit Looms

The AI music generator's v4.5+ update brings professional features while Warner settles—but German rights society pushes forward with copyright claims.

In a January update so quiet it barely registered beyond Suno's help center, the AI music platform clarified what its paid users actually possess: everything they generate, including full commercial rights to distribute on Spotify or anywhere else. The timing wasn't accidental. After settling with Warner Music Group in November—a deal that included WMG taking an equity stake and Suno acquiring the label's concert-discovery platform Songkick—the company appears to be cleaning house before its next legal test.

The German collecting society GEMA isn't backing down. Despite Suno's truce with Warner, GEMA's copyright lawsuit proceeds to hearing in late January, with the organization alleging Suno trained on protected repertoire without remuneration. This split—Warner embracing partnership, GEMA demanding licensing frameworks—reveals the fracturing consensus around AI training data as the industry moves from litigation to negotiation.

Suno's v4.5+ release last July introduced features that read like a wishlist for professional producers: vocal layering onto existing tracks, instrumental generation for acapellas, and an "Inspire" tool that analyzes playlists to suggest creative directions. The company followed with v5 and Suno Studio in September, adding stem separation and multi-track editing in a browser-based DAW. Then, in October, something unexpected: Suno made its v4.5-All model free for everyone, democratizing access to what TechRadar described as "faster generation, better lyrical structure, and improved audio quality."

The legal pressure likely accelerated these product decisions. Before the Warner settlement, major labels had amended their complaint to accuse Suno of "stream-ripping" audio from YouTube for training—citing the Anthropic v. Authors Guild precedent that resulted in a $1.5 billion settlement. Complete Music Update reported these piracy claims in September, just two months before Warner switched from plaintiff to partner.

"The deal opens new frontiers," Warner stated in November, according to Silicon Republic. Translation: better to hold a piece of the disruption than fight it in court.

Meanwhile, Suno expanded beyond audio. Its January API update includes video generation capabilities, allowing users to animate cover art and create simple music videos. The platform now positions itself as a multimedia creation suite rather than just an audio generator—a strategic pivot as competitors like Udio face their own copyright battles.

The ownership clarification matters for creators navigating this situation. Suno's policy now explicitly distinguishes between paid users who "own" their outputs and free users who must provide "attribution." But ownership of AI-generated content remains legally untested territory. If GEMA prevails in establishing that Suno's training violated copyright, what happens to the "ownership" of outputs derived from that training?

GEMA seeks to establish a licensing framework for AI training, not just damages. According to their January statement, they want remuneration systems that acknowledge when protected repertoire contributes to AI models. This approach—treating training data as a licensable asset rather than fair use—could reshape how every AI company operates.

The timing creates an interesting dynamic. Suno ships professional features while simultaneously defending its right to exist. Warner takes an equity stake while GEMA demands licensing fees. Creators gain "ownership" of outputs while the inputs remain disputed.

Paid Suno subscribers now have explicit commercial rights to their generations, though legal precedent remains untested. The Warner partnership signals major labels may prefer equity stakes to extended litigation. GEMA's late January hearing could establish European precedent for AI training licensing. Free access to v4.5-All suggests Suno is prioritizing user growth over immediate monetization, while video generation via API positions Suno against multimodal competitors like Runway.

The GEMA hearing will test whether Suno's Warner deal represents the future—tech companies and rights holders as partners—or merely a one-off détente. If GEMA establishes that AI training requires licensing, every model trained on creative works faces retroactive liability. The question isn't whether AI can create music anymore. It's who gets paid for teaching it how.