Jason Isbell sues Suno over AI identity cloning

Jason Isbell, David Lowery, Guy Forsyth and Eduardo Calle have filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts accusing Suno of using musicians’ identities without consent and allowing users to generate tracks based on those identities. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status, damages and an injunction to stop the company from capturing and monetizing artists’ identities. According to Variety, the complaint says Suno encoded musicians’ identities into its AI model and then exploited those identities for commercial benefit by using performers’ names. The filing argues that the harm goes beyond ordinary copyright claims because it targets the artists’ identities, not just the underlying songs. The plaintiffs also say Suno kept “voiceprints” of artists and that its guardrails could be sidestepped by asking for an artist’s tone and phrasing, by using real names instead of stage names, or by adding spaces between the letters of a name. One example cited in the reporting is Common, used to illustrate how the system could be pushed around the platform’s restrictions. Suno called the claims without merit. The company said it helps people create new, original music, does not trade on anyone’s name, blocks prompts for specific artists’ names or copyrighted songs, and uses third-party technology to screen uploaded audio files and lyrics for possible unauthorized use of artists’ work. Fast Company said the filing is unusual because it focuses on identity rather than copyright. It also said the complaint opens with a Borg analogy from Star Trek, describing it as representing “the ultimate violation of individual identity and autonomy.” The suit adds to Suno’s legal pressure. Variety reported that the company is already facing other cases, including actions brought by Round Hill Music and by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.