Apple has filed a motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit brought by YouTube creators who claim the company scraped their videos to train AI models. The suit, filed in April 2026, involves Ted Entertainment's h3h3Productions, Mr Short Game Golf, and Golfholics channels.

Apple's legal argument centers on the DMCA and YouTube's Terms of Service, which the company says permit access to publicly available content. In court documents, Apple points out that no password, payment, or technological barrier exists for these videos. The company contends that since YouTube provides public access, any technological measures don't qualify as effective access controls under section 1201(a).

This case tests emerging legal questions about AI training data and content creator rights. As tech companies increasingly rely on public internet content for machine learning, courts must determine what constitutes fair use versus copyright infringement. The outcome could set precedent for how AI developers source training data.

Apple's motion argues the plaintiffs have failed to state a valid claim, asking the court to throw out the lawsuit entirely. The judge's decision will clarify whether publicly posted content can be legally harvested for AI development without explicit permission.