GEMA initiated the lawsuit in January 2025, alleging that Suno ingested copyrighted musical works to train its systems without obtaining necessary licenses or compensating rights holders. The organization, which represents approximately 100,000 members including composers, songwriters, and publishers, argued that Suno’s platform allowed users to essentially reproduce well-known tracks through basic text prompts. Specific works cited in the proceedings included “Atemlos,” “Daddy Cool,” “Rasputin,” “Big in Japan,” “Forever Young,” and “Mambo No. 5.”
In its statement, the court determined that AI models built on unlicensed intellectual property do not enjoy legal protection. GEMA CEO Tobias Holzmüller described the verdict as having “global significance,” stating that AI providers must acquire licenses rather than utilizing members’ works free of charge. “If systems are operated in Europe, legal action can also be taken in European courts,” Holzmüller said, emphasizing the ruling’s role in strengthening Europe’s position as a cultural hub.
Suno disputed the court’s findings, issuing a statement that it disagrees with the ruling. The company asserted that the decision rests on a “fundamental mischaracterization” of its technology, which it claims is designed to create new songs rather than reproduce existing ones. Suno also challenged the jurisdiction of the German court, arguing that it does not have proper authority over AI model training activities that occurred exclusively within the United States. The company stated it is evaluating all available options, including filing an appeal.
This case distinguishes itself from concurrent US litigation filed by major record labels Universal Music Group and Sony Music, which accuse Suno of infringing over 60,000 sound recordings. The GEMA lawsuit focuses specifically on musical compositions and lyrics, whereas the US suits target the underlying audio recordings. Additionally, while US defendants often rely on the “fair use” doctrine to justify training on copyrighted material, the German court’s decision underscores the stricter licensing requirements within European law.
The ruling follows a similar decision by the same Munich court in November of last year, where GEMA prevailed against OpenAI. In that case, OpenAI was found to have unlawfully trained its models on copyrighted song lyrics and reproduced them via its ChatGPT interface. OpenAI was ordered to cease such reproductions and pay damages, though that ruling remains non-final due to an ongoing appeal. Martin Senftleben, a professor of intellectual property law at the Amsterdam Law School, noted that GEMA’s initiative is particularly important because, as a collection society, it brings the potential for remuneration to a broader group of rights holders, including lesser-known artists, rather than just major corporate entities.
The immediate legal consequence of Friday’s ruling is the obligation for Suno to engage in licensing negotiations and compensate rights holders for the systematic use of GEMA’s repertoire. The case is now subject to an appeal process, which will determine whether the Munich Regional Court’s interpretation of copyright law regarding AI training data holds as precedent or is modified by higher courts.
