Sony sues Udio again over 30,000 songs, seeks $4.5bn
Sony has filed a second lawsuit against AI music generator Udio over 30,117 recordings, using rivals’ licensing deals to attack Udio’s fair-use defence.

On 2026-07-21, Sony filed a second lawsuit against AI music generator Udio, alleging infringement of 30,117 recordings. The complaint reportedly leverages licensing deals obtained by rival AI music companies to argue against Udio's fair-use defence.
The case matters because it tests whether AI music models can claim fair use when competitors have chosen to license catalogs, potentially shaping how music rights are cleared for generative models. What remains uncertain from this source is the court venue, the specific recordings at issue, and whether damages will be awarded.
- Sony filed a second lawsuit against AI music generator Udio.
- The suit covers 30,117 recordings.
- Sony is using rivals' licensing deals to challenge Udio's fair-use defence.
Sony's second lawsuit alleges AI music generator Udio infringed 30,117 recordings and seeks to defeat a fair-use defence by pointing to licensing deals struck by rival AI firms.
The rundown
The filing is described as a second action against Udio, indicating ongoing litigation rather than an initial claim.
The legal strategy centers on fair use, with Sony citing the existence of licensing agreements by competitors as evidence that licensing was a viable alternative.
Sources
- JournalismTNW2026-07-21
How should this claim be treated?
ace
The debate