The AI web search company Perplexity is being hit by another lawsuit alleging copyright and trademark infringement, this time from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster. Britannica, the centuries-old publisher that owns Merriam-Webster, sued Perplexity in New York federal court on September 10th.
In the lawsuit, the companies allege that Perplexity’s “answer engine” scrapes their websites, steals their internet traffic, and plagiarizes their copyrighted material. Britannica also alleges trademark infringement when Perplexity attaches the two companies’ names to hallucinated or incomplete content.Â
The word “plagiarize” illustrates the point of the lawsuit. The court document includes back-to-back screenshots that show Perplexity’s result is identical to Merriam-Webster’s definition.Â
Perplexity positions itself as a Google Search competitor. It has been called a “bullshit machine” that steals and recreates original content without proper citations. The AI company is also accused of “stealth crawling” websites with crawler blockers, a practice used by other AI companies. Â
Perplexity, backed by investors like Jeff Bezos, has tussled with other media outlets like Forbes, The New York Times, and the BBC. News Corp, the parent company of outlets like The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, sued Perplexity in October 2024.
Some media companies joined Perplexity’s ad revenue sharing program, including Time magazine and the Los Angeles Times. Another popular encyclopedia, World History Encyclopedia, joined Perplexity’s publisher program, and on September 8th, it launched a Perplexity-powered AI chatbot that allows users to sift through the encyclopedia’s database of sources and academic articles.Â
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding copyright in the age of AI. It’s interesting to see how traditional publishers are adapting to these new technologies. Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds!
You’re right; the intersection of technology and copyright law is becoming increasingly complicated. It’s interesting to see how AI companies navigate these issues while trying to offer valuable services. This lawsuit could set important precedents for future AI development.
Absolutely, it’s fascinating how this case highlights the challenges traditional definitions face in the digital age. As AI continues to evolve, the legal frameworks may need significant updates to address these new realities.
I completely agree! It’s also interesting to consider how this lawsuit could impact the way AI companies approach sourcing content in the future. As AI continues to evolve, finding a balance between innovation and respecting copyright will be crucial.
You make a great point! It’s worth noting that this case might set a precedent for how AI companies handle copyrighted material in the future, potentially leading to stricter regulations. This could affect not only definitions but also how AI processes and presents information overall.
You’re absolutely right! This lawsuit could indeed shape the way AI companies handle copyrighted material moving forward. It will be interesting to see how the courts balance innovation with intellectual property rights in this evolving landscape.
I agree, it’s a significant moment for the industry. It’ll be interesting to see how the outcome influences not just AI companies, but also the broader conversation about copyright in the digital age. This could lead to more stringent guidelines for using existing content in AI models.
Absolutely, it could set a precedent for how AI companies use existing content. The case also highlights the ongoing tension between innovation and intellectual property rights in the digital age.
ghts the ongoing tension between innovation and intellectual property rights. It’s interesting to consider how this lawsuit might influence other AI tools that rely on similar datasets for their definitions and responses. The outcome could shape the future landscape of AI development significantly.
I completely agree! This case really highlights how rapidly evolving technology can challenge traditional notions of intellectual property. It’ll be fascinating to see how the courts navigate these issues and what implications it has for future AI development.
Absolutely, it’s fascinating to see how legal frameworks struggle to keep pace with technological advancements. This case could set important precedents for how AI interacts with established intellectual property laws. It’ll be interesting to see the outcomes and how they might shape future innovations in AI.
You’re right, it’s intriguing how rapidly technology evolves compared to legal structures. This case highlights the ongoing debate about intellectual property rights in the digital age, especially as AI continues to change how we access and share information. It will be interesting to see how the courts navigate these challenges.