Rights holders representing Elvis Presley and the publisher behind several of Eminem's biggest tracks are suing AI music generator Suno, alleging that the platform illegally mimics the artists' voices, styles, and lyrics. The legal challenges spotlight a contentious question in modern entertainment: who holds legal control over a singer's distinctive sound when artificial intelligence can copy it in seconds?
Attorneys representing Presley's rights holders argue that Suno breached Tennessee's Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, a state law making it illegal for an AI company to clone a performer's voice without permission. The lawsuit contends that Suno has encoded artists' identities and creative efforts to profit from unauthorized imitations. Rather than centering entirely on standard copyright infringement claims, the action mirrors a similar September complaint filed by musician Jason Isbell, targeting the creation of unauthorized likenesses and replicas.
In response, Suno stated that its service is intended to help people make new, original songs rather than exploit famous artists. Spokesperson Cat McCormack explained that the platform bans unauthorized uses of an artist's likeness, blocks prompts requesting specific artist names or existing song titles, and works with third-party tools to screen uploads for potential violations. Suno maintains that it continues to build stronger safeguards to protect performers.
The new cases add to mounting legal pressure on Suno, which is already defending against lawsuits brought by Sony, Universal Music Group (UMG), and music publisher Reservoir Media. As courts evaluate how existing likeness statutes and intellectual property laws apply to synthetic songs, the disputes could establish significant boundaries for AI-generated music.