SOCAN Sues Suno Over AI Music, Citing 150 Canadian Songs

SOCAN, which represents composers, authors, and music publishers in Canada, has filed a lawsuit against the American AI music platform Suno. They're claiming that Suno has created 150 songs that closely resemble works by notable Canadian artists like Joni Mitchell, The Weeknd, and The Tragically Hip, all without permission or payment. SOCAN is seeking $20,000 for each song, totaling $10 million for the copyright infringements, emphasizing the need for compliance with copyright laws. This lawsuit comes on the heels of a massive $500 million copyright case against Suno from major labels Warner, Sony, and Universal. A recent poll reveals that 87% of Canadian musicians view AI negatively due to worries about theft and lost earnings. Recommendations include labeling AI-generated music and improving the Online Streaming Act.