Suno Fights to Depose Apple Over Major Label Leverage in Copyright War

Suno wants Apple under oath. In a California federal court filing opposing Apple’s motion to quash a deposition subpoena, the AI music company is trying to force an Apple witness to answer whether Apple Music could survive without Universal Music Group and Sony Music, according to Music Business Worldwide. The demand stems from the copyright battle UMG and Sony launched against Suno in Massachusetts. What started in June 2024 over 560 recordings—carrying statutory damages up to $150,000 per work—ballooned this past September into a second lawsuit targeting 60,202 tracks, pushing theoretical damages past $9 billion. Warner Music Group settled its claims in November 2025. The remaining majors argue that AI tracks are flooding Apple Music, diluting royalty pools and eating into their market share. Suno’s legal defense hinges on fair use and proving whether actual market harm occurred. To do that, the startup wants live testimony on four specific areas: Apple’s active licensing negotiations with UMG and Sony, streaming fraud, whether Apple ever assessed operating without either label's catalog, and what the labels communicated regarding Suno. Apple moved to block the subpoena on October 13, labeling the demands disproportionate and framing itself as an uninvolved third party. Apple's bystander excuse falls flat. When the labels claim an algorithmic wave is gutting streaming payouts, the distributor writing the checks cannot pretend to be neutral plumbing.