# German court says Suno’s AI training infringed copyright in landmark ruling - MusicTech

*Источник: MusicTech*
*Дата: 2026-08-03*
*Язык: en*

**Кратко:** German court says Suno’s AI training infringed copyright in landmark ruling
“The fact that we can now enforce our rights in countries including the United States gives creators hope and confidence at a time of profound technological transformation,” says GEMA Supervisory Board chairman Dr Ralf Weigand. Credit: iStock Editorial / Getty Images
A German court has ruled that AI music platform Suno infringed copyright by training its music generation model on protected songs without permission, marking one of the most significant legal victories yet for creators in the fight over generative AI.

German court says Suno’s AI training infringed copyright in landmark ruling
“The fact that we can now enforce our rights in countries including the United States gives creators hope and confidence at a time of profound technological transformation,” says GEMA Supervisory Board chairman Dr Ralf Weigand.
Credit: iStock Editorial / Getty Images
A German court has ruled that AI music platform Suno infringed copyright by training its music generation model on protected songs without permission, marking one of the most significant legal victories yet for creators in the fight over generative AI.
The ruling, handed down by the Munich Regional Court on Friday, found that Suno unlawfully processed, stored and reproduced musical works represented by German licensing agency GEMA as part of training its AI system.
Crucially, the court also held that Suno’s AI training in the United States does not exempt it from copyright liability in Europe. According to GEMA, it is the first time a European court has ruled on AI training carried out in the U.S.
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The lawsuit, filed in January 2025, centred on six songs from GEMA’s repertoire, including Forever Young, Big in Japan, Rasputin, Daddy Cool, Mambo No. 5 and Atemlos. GEMA argued that Suno used these works to train its model without obtaining the necessary licenses or paying creators.
The court agreed, ruling that both the training and commercial exploitation of copyrighted works require permission from rights holders, and that AI service providers must pay the creators appropriate remuneration. Suno has been ordered to pay damages – amount yet to be determined – and disclose revenue related to the infringement.
“This ruling sends a powerful international message: creativity has value, and creators’ rights must be respected in the age of artificial intelligence,” says GEMA Supervisory Board chairman Dr Ralf Weigand.
“Through this decision, GEMA has set an important precedent not only for its more than 100,000 members, but for creators worldwide. The fact that we can now enforce our rights in countries including the United States gives creators hope and confidence at a time of profound technological transformation.”
GEMA CEO Dr Tobias Holzmüller also called the judgment “a landmark” for creators, adding: “All generative AI is based on human creativity; artificial intelligence is nothing without humans. Today, the Chamber made one thing crystal clear: AI models built on stolen intellectual property have no protection under the law. AI service providers must pay for licences rather than helping themselves to our members’ works free of charge.”
“Today, the court’s verdict has significantly strengthened Europe’s position as a cultural centre. When AI service providers operate their systems in Europe, claims can be brought against them in European courts. This is vital for proper enforcement of the law.”
The decision marks GEMA’s second major courtroom victory over an AI company after its successful case against OpenAI last November, further strengthening its push to ensure AI developers license the music they use to train their models.
Since generative AI entered the mainstream, record labels, publishers and collecting societies have been battling AI firms over whether copyrighted works can be used for training without permission. Suno has become one of the highest-profile companies in that debate, previously arguing that AI training constitutes fair use under US law.
Following Friday’s decision, Suno has said it disagrees with the ruling and is considering “all available options”, including an appeal.
Crystal Koe is a Singapore-based writer covering music and gear news for Guitar.com and MusicTech.com since 2021. A former choir kid with an unhealthy karaoke habit, she once ran an online store peddling earphones to strangers on the internet. Her music taste runs wide — from punk and pop-rock to cool jazz and creepy film scores — and she thinks everyone should listen to Kill The Poor by Dead Kennedys at least once before they die.
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