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Udio taps content-security BuyDRM to secure its AI music ‘walled garden’
Udio has partnered with content-security specialist BuyDRM to protect the streaming of its AI-generated music, using the company's KeyOS MultiKey Service to provide multi-DRM support across Google Widevine, Apple FairPlay and Microsoft PlayReady. The deal, announced on 14 July, is part of the technical groundwork underpinning Udio's transformation from a defendant in music-industry copyright litigation into a licensed platform operating within a "walled garden" that prevents AI-generated tracks from being downloaded or shared elsewhere.
The partnership follows a series of licensing settlements after the RIAA sued Udio and rival Suno in June 2024 on behalf of Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group. Universal settled in October 2025, Warner in November 2025, followed by Merlin, Kobalt, Believe and the National Music Publishers' Association through to June 2026, though Sony has yet to settle and its case, now capped at 333 works after a judge rejected an expansion, is heading towards summary judgment following document production closing on 25 August. Udio's forthcoming Starstruck subscription service is expected to rely on three enforcement layers described by chief executive Andrew Sanchez: stream encryption, inaudible watermarking and audio fingerprinting.
In short
- Udio hires BuyDRM to encrypt streaming of its AI-generated music
- Move supports Udio's shift to a licensed, "walled garden" platform
- Sony Music remains the only major label still suing Udio
Explained simply
Udio is an artificial intelligence platform that generates music, allowing anyone to create songs without needing musical training or instruments. When the service launched, major record labels including Universal and Warner Music sued Udio, claiming the AI had been trained on copyrighted songs without permission.
Udio settled with most of the major labels and music publishers over the following year, agreeing to legally operate the platform. However, the settlements came with strict conditions: generated music can be streamed on Udio's platform, but users cannot download or share the tracks elsewhere.
To enforce these licensing restrictions, Udio is implementing multiple layers of technical security. This includes encryption that locks songs to the platform, hidden digital watermarks and audio fingerprinting systems that make it difficult to copy or redistribute the music.
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