Canada Joins the Global Offensive Against AI Music
On September 2, 2026, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) filed a lawsuit against Suno, the AI-powered music generation platform, for alleged copyright infringement. According to the claim, Suno used at least 150 songs from SOCAN's repertoire without authorization, including iconic tracks such as Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane, Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne, and Passing Out In America by Alexisonfire.
The lawsuit, filed before a Canadian court, seeks to make Suno comply with copyright law, stop the availability of infringing outputs, and respect the rights of creators and publishers. SOCAN is also requesting financial compensation for the unauthorized use of the works.
What is SOCAN?
The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada is a non-profit organization that administers the copyrights of over 200,000 creators and publishers in Canada. Its main role is to collect and distribute royalties for the public use of music, ensuring that artists receive fair compensation for their work.
SOCAN's Statements
Andrea Kokonis, SOCAN's legal director, emphasized: “We want to ensure our members get paid when their songs are used... sending a clear signal to AI services that there are consequences when they use music without permission”. Meanwhile, SOCAN's CEO, Jennifer Brown, stated: “Innovation cannot come at the expense of human creativity. The future of music must belong to those who make it”.
Context: Suno in Canada
Suno launched its service in Canada in December 2023 without contacting or obtaining consent from SOCAN. Since then, the platform has generated songs that, according to SOCAN, are based on protected works without a license. The organization also launched a website showing comparisons between Suno's outputs and the original songs, as part of a national campaign against unlicensed AI, supported by artists like Sarah McLachlan and Mac DeMarco.
SOCAN's Parallel Actions
- • Website with comparisons of original songs vs. Suno's outputs.
- • National campaign against unlicensed AI.
- • Partnership with Musical AI to identify AI-generated outputs and attribute credits.
Global Legal Context
- • August 31: Lawsuit by Gerencia 360 Music over use of its Mexican catalog.
- • September 1: Class-action lawsuit led by Jason Isbell.
- • Round Hill Music seeks up to $1 billion in damages against Suno and Anthropic.
- • Universal and Sony added “stream ripping” accusations to their joint lawsuit.
- • Suno signed a licensing agreement with Warner Music Group in late 2025, following an initial lawsuit by UMG, Sony, and WMG for $500 million.
- • A German court ruled in favor of GEMA in a similar case against Suno (including “Rasputin” by Boney M.).
A Precedent for the Industry
This case adds to a wave of lawsuits against Suno worldwide. The music industry seeks to establish clear boundaries for the use of protected works in AI training and music generation. The Canadian court's decision could set an important precedent for other countries.
Meanwhile, SOCAN continues to work with Musical AI to develop tools that identify AI-generated outputs and ensure creators receive the credit and compensation they deserve.
Source: Billboard Canada