Suno, the AI music generation service, announced new tools today to watermark tracks, limit downloads, and tighten community guidelines. The changes arrive as the company faces lawsuits from major record labels, a German court ruling against it, and reports of a data breach.
The company will use audio watermarking and fingerprinting to prevent misuse on streaming platforms. Suno also signed an agreement with lyrics provider Musixmatch to use its Sentinal system for copyright detection. A new download policy will bar mass distribution of tracks on streaming platforms, though Suno declined to provide details on how that policy will work.
New Tools Aim to Deter Misuse
Mikey Shulman, co-founder and CEO of Suno, shared the company's core principles in a blog post. He said the tools are meant to protect artists without punishing listeners.
"These tools are designed to be durable and resistant to tampering, without affecting the listening experience. They are also not intended to pass judgment on whether a song is good, meaningful, or sufficiently human," Shulman wrote.
Suno did not confirm whether it will use Google's Synth ID watermarking system or adopt a new one. It's not clear if the company will rely on an existing system or build its own. The tools are intended to be durable and resistant to tampering, and they are not meant to judge song quality or humanity.
Shulman also addressed transparency, saying the company wants to leave disclosure choices to others.
"Ultimately, we believe it should be up to artists and platforms to decide what they want to disclose. Our role is to build tools that give them transparency options and make it easier to collaborate across the industry," he said.
Community Guidelines Updated
Suno changed its community guidelines to prevent copycat songs and deceptive content. The updated rules prohibit "deceptive audio presented as real" and "using a real person's voice or likeness without permission."
The changes come as Suno faces legal pressure on multiple fronts. The company is in a lawsuit with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Group, coordinated by the Recording Industry Association of America. Late last month, a German court ruled in favor of GEMA, the government-mandated licensing agency, saying Suno was breaking copyright rules.
Suno raised $400 million in a Series D funding round in June. That valuation came before the current wave of legal challenges. The company's paid tiers start at $10 per month, while a premium plan costs $330 annually, giving users access to commercial use rights and higher generation limits.
Data Breach Reported
In November 2025, 404 Media reported a data breach at Suno that revealed the company had scraped YouTube, Deezer, and Genius for training data. Have I Been Pwned said the breach affected 55 million users.
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Suno also faces a class action lawsuit in Massachusetts alleging the company overlooked security measures to focus on profit. The lawsuit claims the breach exposed user data because of inadequate protections.
The company has not publicly responded to the breach allegations beyond the new policy announcements. The breach exposed email addresses and other account details, with some users reporting their data was sold online for as little as $1.
Legal Battles Intensify
The RIAA-coordinated lawsuit with UMG and Sony Music Group is one of several legal challenges Suno faces. The labels allege the AI service used copyrighted recordings to train its models without permission.
The German court ruling in favor of GEMA adds another layer of legal risk. GEMA, a government-mandated licensing agency, won its case against Suno late last month, with the court finding the company violated copyright rules.
Suno declined to confirm which watermarking system it will use when contacted by TechCrunch. The company also declined to provide details on the new download policy. The download restrictions could affect how artists distribute their work, though Suno has not explained the enforcement mechanism.
What's Next for Suno
The new tools are designed to be durable and resistant to tampering, without affecting the listening experience. Suno says the measures are not intended to pass judgment on whether a song is good, meaningful, or sufficiently human.
The company believes it should be up to artists and platforms to decide what to disclose. Suno's role, according to Shulman, is to build tools that give transparency options and make collaboration easier across the industry.
The download policy is meant to bar mass distribution on streaming platforms, though specifics remain unclear. Suno has not said when the new policies will take effect or how enforcement will work. The Musixmatch agreement adds a layer of copyright detection, but the company has not detailed how Sentinal will integrate with its platform.
The company faces a crowded legal calendar. The class action in Massachusetts, the GEMA ruling in Germany, and the RIAA-coordinated lawsuit with UMG and Sony Music Group all remain unresolved.
Suno's $400 million Series D round in June valued the company highly, but the legal and security challenges could test that valuation. The data breach affecting 55 million users and the scraping revelations have added to the scrutiny.
For now, Suno is positioning the new tools as a step toward industry collaboration. Whether that satisfies labels, courts, and regulators remains to be seen.