The closely watched copyright case between GEMA and AI music platform Suno is set to reach a conclusion on July 31, when Germany’s Munich Regional Court delivers its verdict. The case, filed by GEMA in January 2025, argues that Suno trained its AI models on copyrighted music without obtaining licences or compensating rightsholders.

Representing more than 95,000 composers, lyricists and music publishers in Germany, along with over 2 million rights holders worldwide, GEMA is asking the court to rule that, in the future, AI training on protected music would require permission from copyright owners. The verdict will be delivered at 9:00am local time in courtroom 270 of Munich’s Justizpalast by the court’s 42nd Civil Chamber, presided over by Judge Schwager.

Why This Case Matters

At the March 2026 hearing, GEMA presented side-by-side comparisons between Suno-generated outputs and well-known songs including Forever Young, Mambo No. 5, and Daddy Cool. According to GEMA, the AI-generated music reproduced recognisable melodies, harmonies and rhythmic elements from the originals rather than merely creating similar-sounding works.

Suno attempted to have Judge Schwager removed from the case before the hearing, arguing she could be biased because she had previously ruled against OpenAI in a similar copyright dispute. The motion was denied. The company also submitted additional legal arguments earlier this month. The verdict was originally scheduled for June 12 before being postponed to July 31 for what the court described as “internal administrative reasons.” The delay has not been linked to the merits of the case.

Europe May Decide Before the US

The Munich ruling could have consequences well beyond Germany. Under German law, a first-instance judgment can be enforced immediately, even if an appeal is filed. If GEMA prevails, it could seek an injunction affecting Suno’s European operations while appeals continue.

The decision may also become the first significant court ruling on AI music training, as comparable cases in the United States remain much further away. Proceedings involving Sony Music against Suno are currently scheduled to reach dispositive motions in April 2027, while litigation against Udio is still in the discovery phase.

With more than 125 AI copyright lawsuits currently active worldwide and claimed financial exposure exceeding $50 billion, the July 31 verdict is expected to be one of the most closely watched legal decisions in the AI music industry to date.

For more such articles, read:

Suno and Udio vs. the major labels: what the AI music copyright battle means for musicians

How AI Is Reshaping Music Creation and What It Means for Students