Suno has filed a 24-page opposition to Apple’s motion to block testimony in a subpoena dispute connected to its copyright case with Universal Music and Sony Music. The dispute centers on what Apple Music must disclose about licensing, artificial intelligence (AI) and streaming fraud.
The testimony Suno seeks
The parties have negotiated over witnesses and documents through much of 2026. Their current disagreement concerns four modified deposition topics for which Suno wants testimony from Apple Music personnel:
- Current licensing negotiations with Universal Music and Sony Music, including any AI initiatives discussed in those talks.
- Apple Music’s projected commercial viability without the major labels’ catalogs.
- How common streaming fraud is on Apple Music and how the service typically responds.
- Communications between Apple Music and the record companies bringing the case about Suno and the litigation, including communications involving the companies’ agents.
Apple’s motion says Suno is seeking highly confidential proprietary information without showing the required need for it.
Suno’s case for disclosure
Suno argues that Apple Music’s licensing terms are relevant to the fourth fair use factor, which examines a use’s effect on the market for, and value of, copyrighted works. Its filing points to guaranteed minimum royalties paid regardless of whether AI content enters the market, as well as contract terms that exclude AI-generated content from royalty pools.
Suno also says streaming fraud is relevant to its copyright misuse defense. In its account, Universal Music and Sony Music cite fraud to justify efforts to limit competition from non-infringing music. Suno alleges that the companies use their catalogs to seek restrictions on AI-generated content from digital service providers (DSPs).
Upcoming deadlines
A hearing on the Apple subpoena dispute is set for December 1. In a separate subpoena dispute, Suno and the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) have proposed a schedule with response deadlines extending into mid-November. DistroKid has until November 4 to oppose Universal Music’s motion to compel compliance with another subpoena.
