In the USA, artist organisations are fighting against the use of artists' works and identities in AI

The American Federation of Musicians claims that existing agreements are being violated in the collaboration between major labels and AI companies. At the same time, new legislation on the protection of artists' identities has reached the Senate via SAG-AFTRA – the American union for performers. 

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) – a trade union for musicians in the USA – is suing Universal and Warner for their use of music for AI training. In the lawsuit dated 5 June, AFM claims that the two major labels are violating the collective agreement by allowing new use of the recordings in collaboration with AI companies Suno and Udio.   

The lawsuit also states that the two major labels will not disclose which recordings have been licensed for AI training, nor will they compensate the artists for their exploitation.    

“While the defendants have protected their own interests and created a significant new revenue stream through retroactive and forward-looking licensing agreements, they have refused to compensate the musicians whose works – created with their own instruments and through their talent, creativity and hard work – are being fed into AI machines for profit,” the lawsuit states. 

The two labels have previously had copyright disputes with the AI companies themselves, but these were resolved when the music companies entered into collaborations with Udio and Suno respectively in 2025.  

Here at home, the Danish Artist Federation, along with the Danish Musicians' Federation, has informed music companies that training on AI requires the artists' permission.  

”The problems are the same here at home, where we lack comprehensive regulation that protects artists” rights against the new exploitation posed by AI training and the generation of works. The existing legislation is not being complied with, and we have informed the music companies of this. We cannot win if the fight for fair terms is between individual artists and their record labels. Through the trade unions, it becomes a collective effort, and that is why what our American colleagues are up to is so important," says Sara Indrio.  

Gain more knowledge about the issues of copyright in music and AI training her. 

You can read more about the lawsuit in Pitchfork's article here.  

New legislation shall protect artists' identity from exploitation 

Meanwhile, a legislative proposal to ban deepfakes and online human impersonations has reached the Senate. The proposal, known as the NO FAKES Act, is backed by the SAG-AFTRA union, which represents 160,000 performers in the USA. 

“The bill explicitly expands the protection of all persons” voice and visual likeness – both living and deceased – against unauthorised computer-generated recreations. This introduces a clear federal right for all Americans to themselves approve the use of digital copies of their likeness,” according to the presentation of the proposal. 

According to SAG-AFTRA, the NO FAKES Act has bipartisan support in the US Senate and aims to become federal legislation protecting Americans' voices and likenesses from digital harm and exploitation. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 11, 2026.   

Read more about the bill here.  

In Denmark, a bill is ready, which as part of Danish copyright law shall protect artists from deepfakes and digital impersonations. Read more about the bill her.