Tech giant argues that its user agreement grants broad license to use uploaded music for AI training across all corporate units.

After a group of musicians in the US filed a copyright lawsuit against YouTube for using uploaded content for AI training, Google is now asking a federal court to dismiss the case, arguing that its default user agreement with users already provides a broad legal basis for training its AI model.

In a motion filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, attorneys representing Google have argued that creators who upload music to YouTube are deemed to grant the platform an extensive license. This license, they maintain, allows Google to reuse the material across its business units. The firm is seeking to have the case dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.

In a motion filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, attorneys representing Google have argued that creators who upload music to YouTube are deemed to grant the platform an extensive license. This license, they maintain, allows Google to reuse the material across its business units. The firm is seeking to have the case dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.

Landmark case in AI IP disputes
According to Google, YouTube’s terms allegedly grant the firm a global, non-exclusive, royalty-free, and transferable license to reproduce and adapt uploaded content across affiliated entities under Alphabet, including AI products. The firm is also challenging the plaintiffs for have not proven their specific works had actually been used in AI training.

Conversely, the plaintiffs argue that Google has leveraged its control over YouTube to shift from a hosting platform into a direct competitor, using creators’ own content to build AI tools without payment. They claim this practice undermines artists by repurposing their work into competing products.

If the district court agrees with Google’s interpretation of its terms of service, the decision could set a powerful precedent, effectively allowing any content uploaded to YouTube to be used for AI development. The case is part of a broader wave of legal battles over AI training practices, including lawsuits against Meta Platforms and Snap related to data use.