Media Titans Battle AI Startups Over Copyright Infringements

Dow Jones and New York Post filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI for mass copyright infringement. Publishers argue AI startups use their content without consent, claiming Perplexity replicates their copyrighted material verbatim. The lawsuit underscores the ongoing struggle between publishers and AI companies over content usage rights.

The long-standing tension between media companies and technology firms has escalated as Dow Jones and the New York Post have sued Perplexity AI for alleged copyright violations. Accusing the AI startup of "massive illegal copying," the lawsuit reflects the media industry's struggle to protect its content from unauthorized usage by AI technologies.

Filed in the Southern District of New York, the suit highlights conflicts over how AI companies utilize copyrighted material without publisher consent. Dow Jones, parent company of The Wall Street Journal, joined forces with the New York Post, arguing Perplexity unfairly benefits by summarizing their articles and cutting reader pathways to original sources.

The lawsuit claims Perplexity's AI-driven "answer machine" absorbs extensive amounts of licensed content, impacting media companies' revenues from advertising and subscriptions. News Corp's call for licencing underscores an industrial shift as Rupert Murdoch joins others attempting to legally rebut AI's expanding grip on digital content.

(With inputs from agencies.)