The New York Times filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI on Friday, accusing it of using the news organization's articles without permission in summarizing search requests made through its generative AI products.
The artificial intelligence startup has been the subject of a number of similar legal disputes from media companies including the Chicago Tribune, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Dow Jones, all of which take issue with the AI startup's “answer engine,” which uses news, analysis, and opinion-based content to answer questions for the purpose of summarizing them, thus substituting for people reading the actual content. “Perplexity has engaged in unlawful conduct that threatens this legacy and impedes the free press’s ability to continue fulfilling its role of supporting an informed citizenry and a healthy democracy,” the New York Times lawsuit states. “Through the large-scale and illegal copying and distribution of Times' copyrighted content, Perplexity provides its users with a commercial alternative to the Times, without permission or compensation, and in fact despite Times' explicit and repeated objections.”
Perplexity AI's advertising language pitches itself as an alternative to search engines that generate links to traditional news media content, requiring you to read through a report to get the full picture of an article or issue. “Perplexity acts as an intelligent research assistant, streamlining information gathering by providing you with the exact knowledge you need without any additional steps or clicks,” the website states.
The New York Times alleges in its lawsuit that Perplexity violates U.S. copyright law. The law grants creators broad legal protection of exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display their works.
News outlets claim that Perplexity takes that content and uses it, in some cases verbatim, to respond through search queries. “Perplexity violated the protections intellectual property laws provide for the Times' expressive and original journalism, which includes everything from news to opinion, culture to business, food to games, shopping recommendations to sports,” the New York Times said in its complaint. “The Times brings this lawsuit to hold Perplexity accountable for its wrongdoing, joining the growing number of creators suing Perplexity for infringement.”
