The AI web search company Perplexity is facing a lawsuit filed by Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, alleging copyright and trademark infringement. The lawsuit was submitted in New York federal court on September 10.
In the complaint, Britannica and Merriam-Webster assert that Perplexity’s “answer engine” has improperly scraped content from their websites, resulting in the appropriation of web traffic and the unauthorized reproduction of their copyrighted materials. Additionally, Britannica claims trademark infringement, highlighting concerns about Perplexity’s use of both companies’ names in connection with potentially misleading or incomplete information.
The lawsuit emphasizes issues related to the term “plagiarize.” Included in the court documents are screenshots that demonstrate instances where Perplexity’s responses are identical to definitions provided by Merriam-Webster.
This legal action underscores ongoing debates regarding the use of AI technology and the implications for intellectual property rights.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/777344/perplexity-lawsuit-encyclopedia-britannica-merriam-webster