Using AI to Help Write Your Music? The SUNO Copyright Rules Explained

As AI music tools become part of the creative process, many artists need the SUNO copyright rules explained. 

The short answer is simple. You cannot copyright music created entirely by AI, but you may be able to protect the human parts you contribute.

AI tools like SUNO can generate lyrics, melodies, and full tracks in seconds. 

That speed creates opportunity. It also creates confusion. U.S. copyright law protects human creativity, not machine output. 

So if you plan to release, license, or monetize SUNO or other AI-assisted music, you need to understand where the legal lines are drawn.

Farley I. Weiss, Copyright and Trademark Attorney at Weiss & Moy, P.C., has advised artists, producers, and entrepreneurs on how to structure and register creative works properly. 

As a trusted copyright and IP attorney, he works with songwriters, bands, musicians, and other clients nationwide who want their rights protected correctly from the start. We asked Farley to explain the SUNO copyright rules so that they’re easy for the layman to understand.

What Are SUNO’s Terms and What Do They Actually Mean for Artists?

SUNO’s subscription level directly affects ownership and usage rights. It does not automatically determine copyright protection.

If you create music under the Basic free plan, SUNO owns the songs. You may use those songs for non-commercial purposes only. You cannot monetize them under that tier.

If you create music while subscribed to the Pro or Premier plan, you own the songs. You are also granted a commercial use license that allows you to monetize the tracks.

However, ownership under SUNO’s terms is separate from federal copyright protection. In both situations, the material may still be ineligible for copyright if it was generated entirely by AI without meaningful human authorship.

This distinction is critical. Platform ownership and licensing rights do not override U.S. copyright law.

How U.S. Copyright Law Treats AI-Generated Music

The U.S. Copyright Office has stated clearly that copyright protects works of human authorship. Works created solely by artificial intelligence without sufficient human contribution are not copyrightable.

In 2023 and 2024 policy statements, the Copyright Office confirmed that applicants must disclose AI-generated material in their filings. If a work contains both human and AI-created elements, protection may apply only to the human portions.

According to the U.S. Copyright Office, applicants must identify and disclaim AI-generated content in registration applications. 

This means you cannot register a song as entirely your own if it was generated entirely by SUNO. You must separate what you created from what the system generated.

What You Can Copyright When Using AI Tools Like SUNO

Understanding music copyright laws requires looking closely at where human creativity begins and where AI output ends. The law does not reject AI-assisted music outright. It protects the parts that reflect your independent creative decisions and original expression.

You may protect:

• Original lyrics you wrote.
• Significant edits to melody, structure, or arrangement.
• Vocals or instruments you recorded.
• Creative modifications that show independent human authorship.

Farley I. Weiss explains, “AI can be a useful creative assistant. But the law still requires a human author. The more clearly you can document your original contributions, the stronger your position will be.”

Documentation matters. Save drafts. Keep lyric versions. Record editing sessions. The more evidence of human creativity you have, the better.

When filing a copyright registration, you must accurately describe what you created and disclaim AI-generated portions. Misrepresentation can lead to invalidation of the registration.

What You Cannot Copyright in AI-Generated Music

You cannot copyright:

• A track generated entirely by SUNO without edits.
• A melody created solely by AI and released unchanged.
• Music produced from prompts with no meaningful human input.

The Copyright Office has rejected applications where AI was the sole creator. Courts have reinforced the requirement of human authorship.

As a Phoenix IP attorney, Farley I. Weiss often reminds clients that transparency protects them long term. He states, “Shortcuts in copyright registration can create serious problems later, especially if the music becomes commercially valuable.”

If your song gains traction and you attempt to enforce it, opposing parties may challenge the validity of your registration. That risk increases if AI involvement was not disclosed.