Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster have filed a lawsuit against Perplexity, an AI web search company, alleging copyright and trademark infringement. The complaint claims that Perplexity’s ‘answer engine’ illegally scrapes content from their websites, plagiarizing definitions and diverting internet traffic. Britannica also accuses Perplexity of trademark misuse by associating their names with inaccurate or fabricated content. This lawsuit highlights ongoing legal challenges faced by Perplexity, previously involved in disputes with major media companies including News Corp, Forbes, The New York Times, and the BBC. Despite controversy, some publishers like Time and the Los Angeles Times participate in Perplexity’s ad revenue sharing program, while others, such as World History Encyclopedia, collaborate by launching AI-powered chatbots.
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