Nikkei and The Asahi Shimbun have filed a lawsuit accusing Perplexity AI of large-scale copyright infringement and uncompensated use of paywalled journalistic content since at least June 2024. The publishers seek an injunction to stop reproduction of their content, deletion of any data already used, and damages of 2.2 billion yen each. The publishers warn that uncompensated use of journalistic content threatens the future of journalism and could undermine democracy. Perplexity presents itself as an AI-powered search engine with over 30 million users and a recent $18 billion valuation. Other broadcasters and publishers have raised similar copyright concerns.
The owner of the Financial Times has launched legal action against artificial intelligence start-up Perplexity AI, accusing the company of large-scale copyright infringement and "free riding" on journalists' work. Japanese media group Nikkei, alongside daily newspaper The Asahi Shimbun, has filed a lawsuit claiming that San Francisco-based Perplexity used their articles without permission, including content behind paywalls, since at least June 2024.
In a joint statement, the publishers warned the practice posed a serious threat to the future of journalism. "This course of Perplexity's actions amounts to large-scale, ongoing 'free riding' on article content that journalists from both companies have spent immense time and effort to research and write, while Perplexity pays no compensation," they said. "If left unchecked, this situation could undermine the foundation of journalism, which is committed to conveying facts accurately, and ultimately threaten the core of democracy."
The media groups are seeking an injunction to stop Perplexity from reproducing their content and to force the deletion of any data already used. They are also seeking damages of 2.2 billion yen (£11.1 million) each. Perplexity, which styles itself as an AI-powered search engine, has attracted more than 30 million users since its launch in 2022 and was valued at $18 billion in a funding round last month.
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