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Suno Adds Watermarks to AI Songs, Signs Copyright Detection Deal

Suno, the AI music generation platform, is rolling out new measures to address growing concerns about copyright and misuse of AI-generated tracks. The company announced it will add watermarks to songs created on its platform, restrict downloads, and update its community guidelines to prevent the spread of counterfeit music. These changes arrive as Suno faces legal battles with major record labels and a recent court ruling against it in Germany.

In a blog post, Suno's co-founder and CEO Mikey Shulman outlined the platform's core principles: promoting original creation while making AI tools accessible for people to make music. But the company is also grappling with a key issue—users uploading AI-generated songs to other streaming platforms and profiting from them. To tackle this, Suno says it will use audio watermarks and fingerprinting technology to prevent misuse on other platforms. Whether Suno will adopt existing systems like Google's Synth ID or build its own solution remains unclear; TechCrunch hasn't received a response from the company on this matter.

Beyond watermarks, Suno has struck a deal with lyrics service Musixmatch to use its Sentinel system for copyright detection. Shulman wrote in the blog: "These tools are designed to be durable and tamper-resistant while not affecting the listening experience. They also do not intend to judge whether a song is good, meaningful, or human enough. Ultimately, we believe it should be up to artists and platforms to decide what to disclose, and our role is to provide transparent tools and encourage industry collaboration."

Suno also plans to introduce new download policies, prohibiting mass distribution on streaming platforms, but has refused to provide specific details. As for community guidelines, Suno has clearly banned "falsely presenting fake audio as authentic content" and "using real people's voices or likenesses without permission" to prevent counterfeiting.

The company recently completed a $400 million Series D funding round, but legal troubles are mounting. Suno is facing litigation with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Sony Music Group, coordinated by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). At the end of last month, a German court ruled in favor of the government-authorized copyright management body GEMA, finding Suno in violation of copyright rules.

These developments highlight the ongoing tension between AI innovation and copyright protection. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, platforms like Suno are under pressure to ensure they don't facilitate infringement. The new measures are a step toward addressing these concerns, but questions remain about their effectiveness and enforcement.

For now, Suno is trying to strike a balance—encouraging creativity while respecting the rights of artists and labels. Whether these efforts will satisfy critics and courts remains to be seen, but it's clear that the AI music landscape is evolving rapidly, and companies must adapt to survive.

Key Points

  • Suno will add watermarks to AI-generated songs and restrict downloads to prevent misuse.
  • The company signed an agreement with Musixmatch to use its Sentinel system for copyright detection.
  • Community guidelines now prohibit fake audio and unauthorized use of real people's voices or likenesses.
  • Suno faces lawsuits from UMG and Sony, and a German court recently ruled against it in a copyright case.
  • The company completed a $400 million Series D funding round amid these legal challenges.