New York City, December 6, 2025
The New York Times has launched a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, accusing the startup of unlawfully using its copyrighted articles to fuel its AI tools. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, claims Perplexity copied millions of NYT articles without permission, infringing on copyright and trademark rights. The Times seeks damages and a court order to halt future unauthorized use of its content. This legal action underscores the growing tensions between media organizations and AI companies regarding content usage in AI training.
New York Times Sues Perplexity AI Over Copyright Infringement
New York, NY – The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI, alleging unauthorized use of its copyrighted content to power Perplexity’s generative AI tools. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses Perplexity of copying, distributing, and displaying millions of NYT articles without permission. The Times seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further unauthorized use of its content.
The lawsuit claims that Perplexity’s AI-powered search engine scrapes and reproduces substantial portions of NYT articles, providing users with responses that are “identical or substantially similar” to the original content. The Times also alleges that Perplexity’s business model relies on scraping and copying content, including paywalled material, to develop and promote its products. Additionally, the lawsuit accuses Perplexity of fabricating content, or “hallucinations,” and falsely attributing it to the NYT by displaying it alongside the newspaper’s registered trademarks.
Background
Perplexity AI, valued at approximately $20 billion, has been at the center of multiple legal disputes concerning the use of copyrighted content in AI systems. The company has previously stated that it indexes publicly available web pages rather than scraping data to build its foundation models. However, these legal challenges highlight the ongoing tensions between media organizations and AI companies over the ethical and legal use of proprietary content in AI development.
Related Developments
In a separate case, OpenAI was recently ordered by a U.S. federal judge to produce millions of anonymized ChatGPT chat logs in a copyright lawsuit brought by The New York Times and other media outlets. This decision underscores the increasing scrutiny of AI companies’ practices regarding the use of copyrighted material and the importance of transparency in AI training processes.
Implications for the Industry
The outcome of these lawsuits may set important precedents for how AI companies can utilize copyrighted content in their models. Media organizations are advocating for clearer rules and compensation mechanisms to ensure that content creators are fairly recognized and remunerated in the era of artificial intelligence. The resolution of these legal disputes could influence future collaborations and licensing agreements between media companies and AI firms.
Key Features of the Lawsuit
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Perplexity AI |
| Allegations | Unauthorized copying, distribution, and display of millions of NYT articles without permission |
| Legal Action | Lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York |
| Claims | Infringement of copyright and trademark, fabrication of content falsely attributed to NYT |
| Requested Relief | Damages and injunctive relief to prevent further unauthorized use of NYT content |
| Related Legal Actions | Lawsuits from other publishers, including the Chicago Tribune, Reddit, and Dow Jones; OpenAI ordered to produce ChatGPT chat logs in a separate case |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the New York Times suing Perplexity AI for?
The New York Times is suing Perplexity AI for allegedly copying, distributing, and displaying millions of its articles without permission to power Perplexity’s generative AI tools. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further unauthorized use of its content.
What does the lawsuit claim about Perplexity’s use of NYT content?
The lawsuit claims that Perplexity’s AI-powered search engine scrapes and reproduces substantial portions of NYT articles, providing users with responses that are “identical or substantially similar” to the original content. It also alleges that Perplexity’s business model relies on scraping and copying content, including paywalled material, to develop and promote its products.
What other legal actions are related to this case?
Perplexity AI is also facing lawsuits from other publishers, including the Chicago Tribune, Reddit, and Dow Jones, for similar allegations of unauthorized content use. Additionally, OpenAI was recently ordered by a U.S. federal judge to produce millions of anonymized ChatGPT chat logs in a copyright lawsuit brought by The New York Times and other media outlets.
What are the potential implications of these lawsuits?
The outcome of these lawsuits may set important precedents for how AI companies can utilize copyrighted content in their models. Media organizations are advocating for clearer rules and compensation mechanisms to ensure that content creators are fairly recognized and remunerated in the era of artificial intelligence. The resolution of these legal disputes could influence future collaborations and licensing agreements between media companies and AI firms.
Now Happening on X
- @WSJ (December 5, 2025): The New York Times is suing generative-AI startup Perplexity for copyright infringement, expanding its legal fight against artificial-intelligence companies. View on X
- @WSJbusiness (December 5, 2025): The New York Times is suing generative-AI startup Perplexity for copyright infringement, expanding its legal fight against artificial-intelligence companies. View on X
- @NYTimes (December 5, 2025): The New York Times sues A.I. start-up Perplexity over use of copyrighted work. View on X
- @alexbruell (December 5, 2025): The New York Times is suing generative-AI startup Perplexity for copyright infringement, expanding its legal fight against artificial-intelligence companies. View on X
- @LuizaJarovsky (December 5, 2025): Encyclopaedia Britannica is suing Perplexity for copyright infringement, highlighting clashes between traditional publishers and aggressive AI players. View on X
- @jwegelin (December 5, 2025): Media companies are fighting back as the New York Times sues A.I. start-up Perplexity over use of copyrighted work. View on X
- @GeorgeYDesign (December 5, 2025): The New York Times doubles down in its fight against AI, suing startup Perplexity for copyright infringement amid debates on content ownership in generative AI. View on X
- @DogProtector23 (December 6, 2025): New York Times sues AI startup Perplexity, alleging copyright infringement. View on X
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