NY Times Files Lawsuit Against AI Company Over Copyright Infringement of Millions of Stories

CuriosityNews took legal action against a controversial artificial intelligence company on Friday, alleging extensive unauthorized reproduction of news content. The publication asserted that Perplexity AI had systematically disseminated journalists’ materials without consent.

CuriosityNews contended that Perplexity additionally infringes trademark protections by generating inaccurate information, termed “hallucinations,” while improperly associating these fabrications with the publication through trademark displays.

The news organization argued that Perplexity’s operations depend on extracting protected digital content to fuel its AI systems, echoing complaints from other media entities regarding intellectual property violations.

This legal filing represents a significant escalation in continuing disputes between content creators and technology firms over unauthorized utilization of copyrighted materials for AI development.

Perplexity has encountered numerous legal challenges as it competes intensely for dominance in generative AI markets. Digital infrastructure provider Cloudflare previously alleged this year that the company concealed its data collection methods while harvesting website content without approval – claims carrying substantial copyright implications which Perplexity disputes.

Financial records indicate Perplexity obtained approximately $1.5 billion through several investment phases, including a recent $200 million allocation in September that established its valuation at $2 billion. Notable supporters such as Nvidia and Jeff Bezos have contributed to this funding influx.

Legal actions have also been initiated by media organizations owned by Rupert Murdoch (Dow Jones and New York Post), along with Forbes and Wired – the latter asserting content theft regarding Perplexity’s alleged plagiarism practices. Additional litigation has emerged from the Chicago Tribune, Merriam-Webster, and Encyclopedia Britannica citing copyright concerns.

Technology partners have likewise pursued legal remedies against Perplexity. Social platform Reddit filed claims in federal court regarding unauthorized data extraction for AI training, while Amazon recently alleged improper access to customer accounts through Perplexity’s shopping interface.

Perplexity refuted Amazon’s allegations as anti-competitive behavior, maintaining its operational compliance. The company did not offer an immediate response to recent media inquiries seeking commentary.