Suno says v6 was built from scratch; Sony and Universal allege continuing infringement

Suno describes v6 as trained from scratch and disputes a new copyright lawsuit. Sony and Universal plaintiffs allege that training on earlier models' outputs or transferring their learned behavior continues the infringement they allege against those models.

Suno logo
Suno logo.

Case period:

Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated

SunoSony Music EntertainmentUniversal Music GroupUMG Recordings, Inc.

Overview

Suno launched v6 in September with licensing partnerships and described its training as a fresh build. The labels' September 18 complaint alleges that the new models still derive from recordings used without permission, including through synthetic outputs, preference data or model-transfer techniques. Those technical and legal allegations have not been established by the complaint.

Suno disputes the claims and says v6 uses licensed content, user creations, preference signals and its team's accumulated learning. Whether v6 was trained from scratch and whether its uses of recordings infringe copyright are separate questions. The dispute turns on what was copied, how earlier models or outputs were used, and whether those uses infringe copyright. At launch, Suno told Music Business Worldwide that user data meant preference data rather than user-uploaded audio. The later company statement also named community creations as training material.

Timeline

3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: September 9, 2026 to September 22, 2026

  1. September 2026

    1. Suno launches v6 and describes its training

      Source release

      Suno launches v6 with licensing partners and describes its training as entirely from scratch.

      [01]Suno launches v6 and describes its training

      Suno's chief product officer describes the new models, licensed partnerships and the training process.

      Suno launches v6 and describes its trainingJack Brody quotations on v6 training data and music-industry partnerships
    2. Labels file a second Suno lawsuit

      Claim

      Sony and Universal plaintiffs file a new complaint alleging unlicensed copying and continuing infringement involving v6. The filing makes allegations rather than findings.

      [02]UMG Recordings and Sony Music plaintiffs v. Suno: complaint

      The labels allege unlicensed copying and continuing infringement through synthetic outputs or transfer from earlier models. These are allegations in a complaint.

      UMG Recordings and Sony Music plaintiffs v. Suno: complaintNo. 1:26-cv-14275, paragraphs 45-49 and claims for relief
    3. Suno describes v6 training in response to the suit

      Reaction

      Suno disputes the lawsuit and says v6 uses licensed content, community creations and preference signals.

      [03]Suno responds to the new Sony and Universal lawsuit

      Suno disputes the claims and says v6 uses licensed content, community creations and preference signals.

      Suno responds to the new Sony and Universal lawsuitCompany response in opening paragraphs

Claims

Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.

What's disputed

Disputed claim

Suno

The new copyright claims against Suno, including the theory that v6 continues infringement through earlier models, are flawed on the facts and the law.

Sources (1)

Response record

Responses

Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.

3 matching responses. Newest first.

  1. SunoCompany statement reported by Music Business Worldwide on September 22Directly involved

    Before this statement

    The statement responds to the labels' September 18 lawsuit.

    "These claims remain fundamentally flawed on both the facts and the law"
    Defended or excused

    Case context: Suno says v6 was built from scratch; Sony and Universal allege continuing infringement

    Full statement and sources

    Suno disputes the new lawsuit and says v6 combines licensed content with community creations and preference signals.

    After the statement

    Suno describes its training inputs and argues that its service enables people to make new music.

    Suno responds to the new Sony and Universal lawsuitCompany response in opening paragraphs

    Why this label?

    The company defends the challenged training and rejects the infringement claims.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

  2. Sony Music EntertainmentSony Music Entertainment, as a plaintiff in the joint complaintDirectly involved

    Before this statement

    The complaint describes these theories in paragraphs 45-49 and 113.

    "Action: Filed a joint complaint alleging continuing infringement through earlier models' outputs, transfer of learned behavior, and retained copies of recordings used in developing v6."
    Condemned

    Case context: Suno says v6 was built from scratch; Sony and Universal allege continuing infringement

    Full statement and sources

    Sony Music plaintiffs argue that v6 retains the consequences of earlier unlicensed training. Universal plaintiffs join the same allegations.

    After the statement

    The complaint seeks relief for alleged copying and circumvention. Its technical allegations are pleaded on information and belief.

    UMG Recordings and Sony Music plaintiffs v. Suno: complaintNo. 1:26-cv-14275, paragraphs 45-49 and claims for relief

    Why this label?

    Sony opposes the training practices at issue. This is one joint filing, also made by Universal plaintiffs.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

  3. UMG Recordings, Inc.UMG Recordings, Inc., plaintiff in the joint complaintDirectly involved

    Before this statement

    The complaint describes these theories in paragraphs 45-49 and 113.

    "Action: Filed a joint complaint alleging continuing infringement through earlier models' outputs, transfer of learned behavior, and retained copies of recordings used in developing v6."
    Condemned

    Case context: Suno says v6 was built from scratch; Sony and Universal allege continuing infringement

    Full statement and sources

    UMG Recordings and fellow Universal plaintiffs join the allegations that v6 continues infringement through earlier models or retained recordings.

    After the statement

    The complaint seeks relief for alleged copying and circumvention. Its technical allegations are pleaded on information and belief.

    UMG Recordings and Sony Music plaintiffs v. Suno: complaintNo. 1:26-cv-14275, paragraphs 45-49 and claims for relief

    Why this label?

    Universal plaintiffs oppose the training and copying practices challenged in the case.

    This label describes the statement's response within the context above.

Sources

(3)

Original text

UMG Recordings and Sony Music plaintiffs v. Suno: complaint

UMG Recordings and Sony Music plaintiffs v. Suno: complaint (opens in a new tab)No. 1:26-cv-14275, paragraphs 45-49 and claims for relief
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: No. 1:26-cv-14275, paragraphs 45-49 and claims for relief

About this source

The labels allege unlicensed copying and continuing infringement through synthetic outputs or transfer from earlier models. These are allegations in a complaint.

Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Reporting

Suno responds to the new Sony and Universal lawsuit

Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Company response in opening paragraphs

About this source

Suno disputes the claims and says v6 uses licensed content, community creations and preference signals.

Author
Music Business Worldwide
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Interview

Suno launches v6 and describes its training

Suno launches v6 and describes its training (opens in a new tab)Jack Brody quotations on v6 training data and music-industry partnerships
Read source (opens in a new tab)

Relevant passage: Jack Brody quotations on v6 training data and music-industry partnerships

About this source

Suno's chief product officer describes the new models, licensed partnerships and the training process.

Author
Music Business Worldwide
Published
Accessed
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

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Cite this record

Publisher
The Dispute Index
Title
Suno says v6 was built from scratch; Sony and Universal allege continuing infringement
First published
Last updated
Permalink
https://disputeindex.com/cases/suno-v6-from-scratch-sony-universal-copyright

The Dispute Index. "Suno says v6 was built from scratch; Sony and Universal allege continuing infringement". First published: 2026-11-02. Last updated: 2026-11-02. https://disputeindex.com/cases/suno-v6-from-scratch-sony-universal-copyright