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ARTICLE · 18 AUGUST 2026

AI Reporter – August 2026

Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
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This comprehensive AI Reporter from Benesch's AI Commission examines the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence litigation, regulation, and business deployment. From intellectual property disputes involving major studios and AI music generators to state-level regulatory frameworks addressing data centers, employment practices, and consumer protection, the newsletter explores how courts, legislators, and policymakers are responding to AI's transformative impact.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Steven Selna
Steven Selna
Samantha Lim
Samantha Lim
Carlo Lipson
Carlo Lipson
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AI Update

Intellectual property disputes continue to predominate in AI litigation as courts and litigants increasingly focus on model training practices, evidentiary obligations and the scope of fair use. Midjourney asked a California federal court to compel Disney, Universal and Warner Bros. to produce broader discovery regarding their own internal use of generative AI, arguing those materials could undermine the studios’ claims of competitive harm and copyright infringement. Copyright litigation also intensified against AI music companies, with Sony filing a new lawsuit accusing Udio of infringing more than 30,000 recordings, and reports that hacked Suno source code identified YouTube Music, Deezer and other online services as sources of training material. News organizations led by The New York Times sought sanctions against OpenAI, alleging the company failed to preserve evidence and misrepresented its ability to identify copyrighted material within its training datasets and

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