AI vs. The Press: The Perplexity Legal Showdown
Ah, the sweet symphony of the digital age, where innovations are as prevalent as your Aunt Edna at family gatherings—uninvited but somehow always there. This week, two heavyweight newspapers, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, decided to throw a legal left hook at Perplexity AI. Their complaint? Allegations of massive copyright and trademark infringement. It’s like watching a soap opera, only with more money at stake and fewer bad hair days!
The Gory Details
Now, Perplexity isn’t just your average Silicon Valley startup; they’ve been touted as serious challengers to Google. They have this snazzy AI-powered “answer engine” that some folks say is like having a sarcastic assistant who actually knows what they’re talking about. But apparently, that assistant has been borrowing a bit too much from the work of others without so much as a thank-you card.
The complaint, filed in a federal court in New York, alleges that Perplexity has been illegally copying content from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post to spoon-feed its answer engine. Picture this: it’s as if the AI strutted into a bar, ordered the most complex cocktail on the menu, and walked out without paying. Not cool, Perplexity! Not cool!
The Plight of the Publishings
According to these illustrious plaintiffs, Perplexity’s AI doesn’t just quote their articles; it’s effectively a content kleptomaniac—taking just enough to keep others from enjoying it. The lawsuit crackles with indignation, claiming that this “improper use” of such protected material diverts readers and revenue straight out of their pockets. Print journalism is already limping along like a three-legged dog. Do we really need AI pouring salt in its wounds?
Sure, Perplexity gives you direct answers instead of sending you down the proverbial rabbit hole that is clicking through to an original source. It’s like having Google suddenly decide, “Why bother sending you to a restaurant when I can just serve you the meal here?” Great if it’s a gourmet dining experience. But what if it’s more like soggy fries from the bottom of the freezer?
Brand Bashing and Legal Demands
The plaintiffs aren’t stopping at asking for a simple apology. Nope! They’re after collateral too—seeking a cool $150,000 for every violation, which in legal terms is known as “making it rain.” Oh, and they also want all of Perplexity’s databases containing their copyrighted works destroyed—nothing like a good old-fashioned digital bonfire to light up a courtroom!
Interestingly, this isn’t the first rodeo for Perplexity. They’ve already had to weather the storm from The New York Times. The Times sent a cease-and-desist letter, which is basically the ‘please stop or we will have to take out the big guns’ kind of note. Spoiler alert: they ignored it! It seems that when it comes to legal notices, Perplexity believes in the age-old wisdom of “what you don’t know won’t hurt you.”
Who’s Backing This AI Rumble?
Backing Perplexity are some high-profile investors, including the ever-charismatic Jeff Bezos and Nvidia, the tech giant known for its AI-powered silicon. So, it’s not just David versus Goliath; this is more like David with a slingshot and a few tech-fueled superheroes on his side. Good luck, traditional journalism!
The Future: A Mixed Bag of Ai and Ethics
So what’s the broader takeaway from this legal kerfuffle? The world of AI is clearly at odds with traditional publishing, but where does that leave mutual respect and ethical considerations? If Perplexity wins, it could set a precedent for AI to claim freedom to scoop up content without any repercussions—even if it’s more questionable than your Uncle Bill’s dance moves at weddings!
But if the media giants win, will it reinforce the need for AI developers to ask for a little courtesy before they go dumpster diving in the vast database that is the internet? Whatever the outcome, you can bet it’s going to be more entertaining than reality TV. Stay tuned, folks—the show’s just getting started!
The newspapers The Wall Street Journal y The New York Post They filed a lawsuit this Monday before a US court against the artificial intelligence company Perplexity AIalleging massive infringement of their copyrights and trademarks.
Perplexity is one of Silicon Valley’s most promising startups, whose search engine based on artificial intelligence (AI) It is often mentioned as a possible rival to Google.
The lawsuit in federal court in New York accuses Perplexity of illegally copying and reproducing copyrighted content created by The Wall Street Journal y The New York Post to feed its AI-powered “answer engine.”
Perplexity. ai is a question answering platform known for its minimalist and conversational interface.
Unlike ChatGPT o ClaudePerplexity’s tool offers up-to-date solutions that often include links to sources, allowing users to verify information.
Furthermore, unlike a classic search engine, Perplexity offers answers directly on its page, making it unnecessary for users to click through to the originating website.
According to the complaint, this constitutes “improper use” of protected content, which allows the company to divert readers and revenue from the The Wall Street Journal y The New York Post.
“Unlike the business model of a traditional search engine in internetPerplexity’s business model does not direct the business towards content creators. To the contrary, it appropriates monetization opportunities,” the legal action alleges.
Perplexity, which is backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos and AI-critical semiconductor giant Nvidia, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuit also accuses Perplexity of damaging the brands of both publications by attributing false information to their editorial staff.
The media requests precautionary measures and compensation of up to $150,000 for each violation.
The plaintiffs also demand the destruction of any database containing their copyrighted works. copyright.
The action follows similar accusations from The New York Times, which has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity, a first step toward a legal lawsuit.
In a similar case, that New York newspaper filed a complaint against OpenAI last year, accusing the creator of ChatGPT of stealing content to train its powerful AI with protected material.
News Corpowner of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, signed a content agreement with OpenAI and in the lawsuit alleges that Perplexity ignored requests to establish such a partnership.
rrg
