Google Says YouTube Terms Allow AI Music Training

Google has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a group of independent artists who claim that the company's AI music model, Lyria 3, was trained on their copyrighted work without permission. The plaintiffs argue that Google infringed on their copyrights by using their songs in Lyria 3 without compensating them. However, Google's lawyers say that the terms of service for YouTube grant a broad license to use uploaded content, including for AI training.

The lawsuit claims that Lyria 3 was trained on music ripped from YouTube without compensating artists, but Google's lawyers argue that the company has a right to use the material under its terms of service. The motion cites a clause in YouTube's terms of service that grants a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use uploaded content for derivative works.

The situation might be different for music distributed through YouTube pursuant to licensing agreements with labels and publishers. Some companies have added AI-specific language in recent years that sets forth rules for whether and how music on the platform can be used for Google's AI initiatives.