HomeYouTube creators file copyright lawsuit against Snap over AI model training
A group of YouTubers suing major tech companies for unauthorized use of their videos to train AI models has expanded its lawsuit to include Snap. The creators, who operate three YouTube channels with a combined 6.2 million subscribers, claim Snap trained its AI systems on their content for features like the "Imagine Lens," which enables text-based image editing.
The plaintiffs previously filed similar complaints against Nvidia, Meta, and ByteDance.
In the proposed class action filed in California federal court, the creators accuse Snap of improperly using the HD-VILA-100M dataset and others intended solely for academic research. They allege Snap bypassed YouTube's commercial use restrictions, terms of service, and licensing rules to deploy these datasets commercially.
The lawsuit seeks statutory damages and a permanent injunction to prevent further alleged copyright violations.
The case is led by the creators behind h3h3 (5.52 million subscribers) along with the golf channels MrShortGame Golf and Golfholics.
This joins numerous legal actions by content creators against AI companies, including cases from publishers, authors, news outlets, artists, and other YouTubers. According to the Copyright Alliance, over 70 copyright cases have been filed against AI firms.
While some cases, like one involving Meta, have favored tech companies, others such as the Anthropic lawsuit have resulted in settlements. Many remain ongoing.
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Disrupt 2026 Tickets: Limited-Time Offer
Tickets are now available! Secure savings up to $680 with current rates, and be among the first 500 registrants to receive 50% off a +1 pass. TechCrunch Disrupt features industry leaders from Google Cloud, Netflix, Microsoft, Box, a16z, Hugging Face, and others across 250+ sessions focused on growth and competitive advantage. Engage with hundreds of innovative startups and participate in curated networking opportunities that deliver valuable connections, insights, and inspiration.
San Francisco | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW Snap has been contacted for comment. TechCrunch will update this story if a response is provided.
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A group of YouTubers suing major tech companies for unauthorized use of their videos to train AI models has expanded its lawsuit to include Snap. The creators, who operate three YouTube channels with a combined 6.2 million subscribers, claim Snap trained its AI systems on their content for features like the "Imagine Lens," which enables text-based image editing.
The plaintiffs previously filed similar complaints against Nvidia, Meta, and ByteDance.
In the proposed class action filed in California federal court, the creators accuse Snap of improperly using the HD-VILA-100M dataset and others intended solely for academic research. They allege Snap bypassed YouTube's commercial use restrictions, terms of service, and licensing rules to deploy these datasets commercially.
The lawsuit seeks statutory damages and a permanent injunction to prevent further alleged copyright violations.
The case is led by the creators behind h3h3 (5.52 million subscribers) along with the golf channels MrShortGame Golf and Golfholics.
This joins numerous legal actions by content creators against AI companies, including cases from publishers, authors, news outlets, artists, and other YouTubers. According to the Copyright Alliance, over 70 copyright cases have been filed against AI firms.
While some cases, like one involving Meta, have favored tech companies, others such as the Anthropic lawsuit have resulted in settlements. Many remain ongoing.
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