Historic victory for music creators:
The German copyright society GEMA has won its lawsuit against Suno, a company that allows users to generate music with artificial intelligence. The ruling states that Suno has infringed copyright by using copyrighted music without a license.
/ 31/07/2026 / Willy Martinsen– The verdict is a very important victory in principle for music creators and rights holders in Europe, says TONO CEO Karl Vestli.
A court in Munich ruled on Friday that Suno has used works from EGG YOLKs repertoire without the necessary permission. The court granted GEMA's claim for compensation and access to the company's revenues. Suno has announced that they are considering appealing the decision.
The case concerns the AI-based music service Suno, which allows users to generate complete songs using simple text instructions. GEMA has documented that the service can generate music that largely matches known, copyrighted works.
GEMA filed a lawsuit against Suno in January 2025 after the company failed to enter into licensing agreements for the use of musical works the organization manages.
For several years, TONO has pointed out that the use of music for training artificial intelligence must be based on the same basic principles as other commercial uses of music: consent, licensing and remuneration.
– This ruling confirms a very basic principle. Copyrighted music cannot be used for training commercial AI services without permission from the rights holders. The AI services have taken action and used music they did not have permission to use, says Karl Vestli.
The verdict is GEMA's second significant victory against a leading AI player. In November 2025, the organization also won a case against OpenAI.That case concerned the use of copyrighted song lyrics. The Suno case is about the music itself.
“Together, these judgments provide increasingly clear legal clarification that is relevant throughout Europe. They show that copyright also applies when new technologies are developed, and they strengthen the basis for licensing music used in artificial intelligence,” says Vestli.
Neither GEMA nor TONO wants to stop the development of artificial intelligence. The goal is to ensure that the technology is developed in a way that respects the rights of the authors.
– Artificial intelligence has become part of reality in the music industry. That is why we need rules of the game that ensure both innovation and copyright. Music creators must have the right to reserve, the right to give consent and the right to be paid when their music creates value for AI companies, says Vestli.
In parallel, important work is also underway in the EU that the music industry hopes and expects will strengthen copyright in the face of artificial intelligence.
TONO is optimistic about future licensing solutions between music creators and AI companies.
– We do not yet know whether Suno will appeal the judgment, and we are still waiting for new and clear requirements for AI companies from the EU. But these are very important steps in the right direction. We look forward to the fact that in a few years it will be as natural for AI companies to obtain a license from collective management organizations like TONO as it is for streaming services. These judgments point in that direction, says Vestli.
TONO was founded in 1928 and is a non-profit cooperative owned and managed by composers, lyricists and music publishers. TONO manages the economic copyrights in their musical works and grants licenses for the public use of protected music for a fee. TONO's financial results are transferred to copyright holders in music that has been performed publicly in Norway and abroad. TONO has more than 44,000 members and also represents millions of international authors. In 2024, TONO paid out NOK 741,7 million to copyright holders at home and abroad.
Willy Martinsen, Communications Director at TONO, mobile 909 65 254, willy.martinsen@tono.no.