Perplexity, as an AI-powered search engine, is entering a new phase in its claims of copyright and trademark infringement. In the lawsuit filed together with Britannica’s owner Merriam-Webster, the process was initiated in a federal court in New York on September 10. Allegations include methods of obtaining copyright and site traffic; parties accuse Perplexity of pulling and presenting content without sources and using copyrighted texts without permission. Britannica also argues that Perplexity’s association of incomplete or incorrect content with its own brand constitutes trademark infringement.
Among the evidence supporting the “plagiarism” claims are documents comparing screenshots showing the same results with Merriam-Webster’s definitions. This situation reinforces the direct accusation of plagiarism and is presented as an important piece of evidence in the court process.
Positioned as a competitor to Google, Perplexity is often criticized for seemingly stealing content without citing sources. Additionally, it is alleged that some sites using blocking software are being crawled; claims suggest that this technique was used previously by other AI companies as well.
During a period of past issues with media organizations and new collaborations, some publications like Time magazine and the Los Angeles Times have partnered with Perplexity through advertisement sharing. Moreover, the World History Encyclopedia launched a joint project with Perplexity on September 8, offering an AI-supported chat bot. This bot allows users to access encyclopedic content in an academically scannable format.
