Eminem’s music catalog is at the center of a new legal battle over artificial intelligence, with his publisher, Eight Mile Style, reportedly suing AI music company Suno for $41 million. The lawsuit alleges the company used copyrighted recordings of the Detroit rapper without permission to train its generative music model. Eminem is not said to be named as a plaintiff. Still, the case puts rights associated with some of his most famous compositions at the center of an ongoing debate over how AI companies use existing music.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Francisco, according to AllHipHop. Suno is accused of using copyrighted content from Eminem’s catalog to train its model, and the generated output allegedly resembles his work, according to Eight Mile Style. The publisher reportedly has the rights to 269 of the rapper’s compositions, including “The Real Slim Shady,” “Lose Yourself,” and “Stan.”

The suit lists financial demands, including $150,000 for each composition, and $672,000 concerning the alleged removal of copyright information. The total amount being sought is said to be $41 million. That figure, however, is what the plaintiffs are seeking in damages, and is not to be confused with a sum that has already been awarded in court. The allegations and demands in the lawsuit are only allegations in an ongoing legal dispute.

In a statement made to Billboard, Suno has responded to the accusations. “The company said its purpose is to help people create new and original music, not capitalize on an artist’s name or likeness. It also said it bans unauthorized use of an artist’s work and does not allow prompts that ask for specific artists’ names and songs.

The company said it also uses third-party providers to scan uploaded audio files and lyrics for possible misuse. Suno said the measures are part of an effort to strengthen protections for artists and users, and that it plans to roll out more safeguards. It offers a different description of how the platform handles copyright issues, while the Eight Mile Style lawsuit challenges whether those protections are adequate.

The dispute raises a complicated question for the music industry: how should copyright law apply to generative artificial intelligence systems trained with existing creative works? The problem is even more difficult when a platform can generate new material that purports to imitate the style or sound of an established artist. Legal battles over AI-generated music, including those involving Suno and others, are one example, such as the one with Eminem’s publisher.

It also raises questions about the relationship between copyrighted recordings, training data, and the material users create through AI platforms. It doesn’t solve those problems of distinguishing the training process from the final output. They are part of the broader legal issues that are fought over in cases like this.

Meanwhile, Eight Mile Style is currently pursuing significant damages for the alleged use of Eminem’s compositions. Suno maintains it has policies and screening mechanisms in place to prevent unauthorized use. The court will need to process the claims according to the law. Until then, the $41 million figure is what is being sought, not a confirmed judgment.

Joe Budden is dismissing chatter about a supposed feud between Usher and Chris Brown, despite social media buzz about their recent show in Atlanta. Budden and his co-hosts discussed rumors of a backstage beef between the two R&B singers on a recent episode of “The Joe Budden Podcast.” Other panelists checked the details online, but Budden said the situation may have been overblown and that any rivalry was healthy competition.

The talk came after the first of five Atlanta-area shows on the artists’ “R&B” tour, which was delayed three hours on Thursday, Nov. 5. Then reports emerged of a backstage bust-up, leading to speculation that the two headliners were falling out. The two performers were sharing the spotlight on a big tour, and speculation soon entered the wider conversation around the event.

Budden made it clear he wasn’t willing to take the reports as evidence of an altercation on the pod. Technical issues might have been part of the reason, he said, questioning whether it was worth the attention. He thought something might have gone down backstage, but that didn’t mean the singers were in a major argument.

The other podcast members approached the story from a different angle. Ice started sifting through the bits and pieces of information fans were discussing, including Instagram posts and Atlanta setlist changes from past shows. Those details have fuelled online speculation about Usher’s relationship with Brown, but they don’t prove or confirm a feud.

But Budden was skeptical. What was being reported as a backstage situation could have been technical issues, he said, adding the DJ and T.I. had to keep the crowd entertained as the delay was worked out. His comments seemed to provide a possible explanation for the collapse, without saying what had happened behind the scenes.

He also described the relationship between the two performers as competitive rather than hostile. He expected the tension of two great artists on the same stage comparing their performances. Budden thought neither man wanted to hurt the other, and wondered if Chris Brown would be petty enough to make it a big personal thing.

It matters that the delay and “backstage argument” have been mentioned online as if they automatically signal an ongoing conflict. Budden’s comments challenge this interpretation, reminding us that what we know isn’t the whole story.

But the podcast illustrated how fast a disruption at a live event can turn into a bigger story when two major performers are involved. Ice mentioning Instagram activity and setlist comparisons has just added more fuel to the speculation, but they are still just pieces of a conversation, not definitive proof of a feud.

But for now, Budden isn’t buying the idea that Usher and Chris Brown are in any serious beef. He sees the situation as possible technical issues and, at best, healthy competition. Whether the alleged backstage incident happened is still up in the air until one of the artists addresses the rumors.