Universal and Sony Cleared to Depose Ex-Menlo Ventures Exec Over Deleted Pro-Suno Social Post

Universal Music and Sony Music have won court approval to depose a former Menlo Ventures executive over a since-deleted social media post in which he wrote that he had "personally shifted most of my listening to Suno" — a statement the labels argue is legally significant to their ongoing lawsuit against the AI music generator. The move marks an escalation in discovery proceedings as the major labels pursue claims related to Suno's use of copyrighted recordings in AI training.

The deposition push underscores how informal endorsements and internal communications are becoming key battlegrounds in AI copyright litigation. Music Business Worldwide had previously highlighted the post's potential significance in an open letter to Suno CEO Mikey Shulman, and the court's clearance to proceed with the deposition suggests judges are willing to pursue unconventional evidence trails in these cases.