Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster Sue Perplexity AI Over Copyright and Trademark Violations

Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster have initiated legal action against Perplexity AI, alleging copyright infringement, trademark violations, and diversion of internet traffic. The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, claims the AI startup's "answer engine" replicates content from their websites without permission, plagiarizing works and depriving them of revenue.

The complaint highlights instances where Perplexity's outputs mirror Merriam-Webster's definitions verbatim, such as its entry for "plagiarism." Britannica asserts these actions mislead users into believing the AI-generated content is endorsed by the publishers, despite inaccuracies or incomplete information.

"AI-created content confuses and deceives Perplexity users into falsely associating hallucinations with Britannica," the filing states. The legal battle underscores growing tensions between traditional content providers and AI platforms over intellectual property rights and fair use.