Key Points
- Perplexity AI defends itself against News Corp’s legal claims.
- The startup insists it responded to News Corp’s outreach.
- Perplexity accuses News Corp of trying to control public data.
- The lawsuit reflects a larger battle over AI’s use of news content.
The Perplexity AI lawsuit against News Corp has sparked intense debate in tech and media. Perplexity AI strongly denies News Corp’s claims of unauthorized data scraping and misattribution.
The media giant, representing outlets like Dow Jones and the New York Post, filed this lawsuit seeking $150,000 per infringement, alleging that Perplexity reused content without permission.
Perplexity, however, calls these claims “simply false” and argues that they represent a larger resistance to AI’s evolving role in media.
Perplexity AI decries News Corp’s ‘simply false’ data scraping claims https://t.co/nn6jZkok09
— Ratan Jyoti (@reach2ratan) October 25, 2024
Perplexity AI Lawsuit: Startup Rejects News Corp’s Claims
Perplexity AI insists that it did respond to News Corp’s outreach about data use, denying the accusation that it ignored the issue.
“They reached out; we responded the very same day,” Perplexity stated, explaining that rather than continuing the dialogue, News Corp filed the lawsuit instead.
The AI startup claims its engine uses content responsibly by linking to sources whenever possible, countering allegations that it simply republishes media for profit.
In response, Perplexity highlighted an emerging trend in these types of lawsuits. The startup argues that companies initiating such lawsuits often produce extreme examples of alleged misuse, only to walk back on those accusations when pressed for details in court.
“We presume that will happen here,” Perplexity said, questioning the basis of News Corp’s case. This, it argues, shows that the lawsuit may not have substantial backing.
This lawsuit is one of many filed by media companies attempting to define the legal boundaries of data use for generative AI models. Perplexity AI points to existing content-sharing agreements it holds with Time, Fortune, and Der Spiegel, suggesting that such arrangements could have been negotiated with News Corp.
Adding a hint of irony, Perplexity noted that News Corp’s own Wall Street Journal previously awarded it the title of “Best AI Chatbot,” marking an endorsement that now stands at odds with News Corp’s legal stance.
Perplexity AI Lawsuit Marks Broader Disputes Over Content Ownership
The Perplexity AI lawsuit underscores a larger, rapidly intensifying debate over AI’s impact on traditional media. Media giants, concerned about losing control over content, have increasingly resorted to litigation to protect their copyrighted material.
As AI models evolve, they require vast datasets to improve accuracy and functionality, a demand that has fueled friction between AI developers and content creators. News Corp’s stance reflects a growing concern about generative AI’s potential to undermine established media without providing proper compensation.
However, Perplexity argues that the goal of companies like News Corp is not necessarily to ensure fair use but to impose restrictions that curb AI’s ability to handle publicly reported information.
“They wish this technology didn’t exist,” Perplexity stated, suggesting that lawsuits like these are attempts to monopolize access to news.
With the Perplexity AI lawsuit now in court, the final verdict could set a crucial precedent for AI companies, publishers, and even tech users who rely on AI-driven content tools.
In challenging these claims, Perplexity hopes to demonstrate that responsibly developed AI tools can coexist with the publishing industry, enhancing information access rather than undermining it.
