Perplexity AI is Sued by Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster for Copyright Infringement

In a major legal development, Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster are suing the artificial intelligence search engine Perplexity AI for allegedly illicitly scraping their content and using their trademarks. The suit, filed on September 10, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Perplexity scraped content from their websites and copied definitions word-for-word as AI-generated responses without proper permission.

The Allegations

The lawsuit highlights several instances in which Perplexity purportedly copied passages from Britannica and Merriam-Webster.

• Example cited: The reproduction of Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word “plagiarize.”
• The plaintiffs argue that this demonstrates clear intellectual property theft, as no permission was sought and no credit was given.

Besides copyright concerns, the lawsuit alleges that Perplexity has infringed on trademarks:

• By associating its AI-created answers with well-regarded brands like Britannica and Merriam-Webster, users might believe the content is endorsed or provided by these organizations.

Impact on Britannica and Merriam-Webster

Both Britannica and Merriam-Webster have invested significant resources over the years to ensure their knowledge databases are extensive and accurate.

• The plaintiffs contend that Perplexity threatens this investment by diverting web traffic away from their sites.
• Users receiving summarized answers directly from Perplexity may no longer visit the original sources, reducing the value of the organizations’ content.

Reputation Risk:

• AI-generated definitions may be inaccurate or incomplete, creating a risk of associating errors with trusted brands like Britannica and Merriam-Webster.

Perplexity’s Response

• No public response from Perplexity AI has been reported yet.
• These are not the first accusations against the company:
  • In 2024, Dow Jones and The New York Post sued Perplexity for allegedly misusing their articles on the AI platform.
  • Criticism has also arisen regarding Perplexity using web crawlers to scrape content from subscription-only pages.

Broader Implications for AI and Content Creators

This legal fight exemplifies a broader tension between AI firms and traditional content creators:

• AI systems use large datasets, often including copyrighted material, to generate answers or content.
• AI developers argue their technology increases accessibility and convenience.
• Content creators see this as unlicensed exploitation of intellectual property.

Legal Experts:

• The case could set an important precedent.
• A ruling in favor of Britannica and Merriam-Webster may compel AI companies to raise standards for accessing and using online content.
• This could reshape practices for AI training and content usage.

The Debate Around AI Summarization

• Efficiency vs. originality: AI can quickly provide information and save users time.
• Potential downside: Overreliance on AI summaries could dilute the value of original work and expertise.
• This tension highlights the need for clearer rules on attribution, licensing, and fair use in AI applications.

Conclusion

The lawsuit filed by Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster against Perplexity AI illustrates the evolving challenges of intellectual property in the age of AI.

• As AI becomes more integrated into daily information consumption, it is increasingly important to balance technological innovation with protection of content creators’ rights.
• The court’s decision could have wide-ranging implications for AI development, digital publishing, and the future of online knowledge dissemination.