Elvis Presley and Eminem Rights Holders Sue Suno Over AI Voice Cloning, Citing Tennessee's ELVIS Act

AI music startup Suno faces new lawsuits from the rights holders of Elvis Presley and the publisher of some of Eminem's records, alleging the platform illegally generates music and lyrics that mimic these artists. The Presley suit specifically invokes Tennessee's ELVIS Act, which makes AI voice cloning illegal, marking a new legal approach focused on state right-of-publicity laws.

New Legal Front: State Right-of-Publicity Laws

These recent lawsuits against Suno mark a significant shift in the legal strategy against AI music generators. Rather than relying solely on federal copyright infringement claims, the plaintiffs are testing the strength of state-level right-of-publicity laws, such as Tennessee's ELVIS Act. This act explicitly makes it illegal for an AI company to clone a singer's voice without permission.

The implication of this approach is substantial: a victory on likeness grounds would not require proving that Suno directly copied specific recordings. Instead, the focus would be on whether the AI-generated output creates an unauthorized imitation of an artist's unique vocal characteristics and style. This legal avenue mirrors a September 2026 suit filed by artist Jason Isbell and others, which similarly sidestepped direct copyright infringement claims.

Suno's Defense and Existing Legal Battles

Suno maintains that its core mission is to empower individuals to create new, original music. The company states it has implemented measures to prevent unauthorized use of artists' work, including blocking prompts that specifically name artists or songs. Furthermore, Suno claims to screen uploaded audio and lyrics using third-party providers to ensure compliance.

Despite these efforts, Suno is already embroiled in multiple legal disputes. The company is currently fighting lawsuits from major music industry players like Sony, Universal Music Group (UMG), and Reservoir Media. These earlier cases primarily concern the use of copyrighted material in Suno's training data and the nature of its AI-generated outputs.

Why This Matters for AI Music and Creator Rights

The outcomes of these lawsuits could have profound implications for the future of AI music generation and the broader landscape of creator rights. If successful, these cases could establish a powerful precedent for protecting artists' identities and voices in the age of advanced AI tools. It highlights the growing tension between technological innovation and the need to safeguard intellectual property and personal likeness.

For developers of AI tools, these legal challenges underscore the critical importance of ethical AI development and robust content moderation. Companies will need to navigate an increasingly complex legal environment, potentially leading to new licensing models or more stringent safeguards to prevent the unauthorized replication of artistic styles and voices.

What to Watch Next

The legal battles involving Suno are far from over. The industry will be closely watching how courts interpret and apply state right-of-publicity laws like the ELVIS Act in the context of AI-generated content. These cases could shape how AI music platforms operate, how artists protect their work, and the future of creative expression in the digital age. The resolution of these lawsuits will likely influence future partnerships and licensing agreements between AI companies and the music industry.

Sources

• Elvis and Eminem rights holders are suing Suno | The Verge
• Legally embattled AI music startup Suno raises at $2.45B valuation on $200M revenue | TechCrunch
• Warner Music signs deal with AI music startup Suno, settles lawsuit | TechCrunch