The New York Times has taken Perplexity AI to court, adding yet another high-profile case to the growing list of lawsuits against AI companies accused of using copyrighted content without permission.
And this isn’t the first time AI giants have been dragged into legal battles before, and the pattern is only getting louder. Let’s break it down. What the NYT says Perplexity did wrong The New York Times has accused Perplexity of: NYT spokesperson Graham James said: We believe in ethical AI, but we strongly object to Perplexity’s unlicensed use of our content. The Times wants compensation and wants the court to stop Perplexity from using its content. Also read: Learn easy ways to earn money from ChatGPT
Perplexity’s response Perplexity has dismissed the lawsuits, saying publishers are using ‘old tactics’ to slow down new technologies. The company claims it’s only indexing the web, not scraping sites to secretly train foundation models. AI companies keep getting sued — Here’s the full pattern The NYT lawsuit is part of a much bigger wave. Over the last two years, several AI companies, including industry leaders, have faced similar accusations. Here’s a quick timeline to show how common this has become: Also read: OpenAI denies allegations that ChatGPT to blame for teen’s suicide
When ChatGPT (OpenAI) was sued OpenAI vs. The Authors Guild (2023) A group of bestselling authors, including George R.R. Martin and John Grisham, sued OpenAI for using their books without permission to train ChatGPT. OpenAI vs. New York Times (2023–2024) NYT accused OpenAI of using its journalism to train ChatGPT, saying the model sometimes produced Times-style answers and even copied paragraphs. OpenAI vs. Multiple News Publishers Outlets like Axios, The Intercept, and Raw Story also filed lawsuits accusing OpenAI of scraping copyrighted material. Why these lawsuits matter:
They set the early legal framework for how AI companies can use large volumes of text. When Perplexity was sued earlier Chicago Tribune Lawsuit (2024) A day before NYT’s lawsuit, the Chicago Tribune sued Perplexity for copying and summarising its journalism without permission. Dow Jones, New York Post Britannica (2024–2025) Media companies owned by Rupert Murdoch, along with Encyclopedia Britannica, accused Perplexity of illegally using their articles. Reddit Lawsuit (2024) Reddit sued Perplexity for scraping its platform despite restrictions. Takeaway: Perplexity has quickly become one of the most frequently sued AI startups because of its aggressive approach to data. Also read: New Android malware attack can steal your money without OTPs
Other major AI legal battles
Stability AI vs. Getty Images Getty sued Stability AI for allegedly scraping 12 million copyrighted images; the case became one of the most talked-about “AI copyright moments.” GitHub Copilot vs. Developers Copilot faced lawsuits from open-source developers claiming Microsoft/GitHub used their code without proper attribution. Why are AI companies getting sued so often? Here’s the simple explanation: 1. AI models depend on massive datasets And much of that data belongs to someone: newsrooms, authors, photographers, coders. 2️. The law wasn’t prepared for AI training Copyright laws were made for books, not billion-parameter models. 3️. Paywalled content is a legal red line Publishers say it’s outright theft when AI models access locked content. 4️. Hallucinations create reputational harm When AI tools generate fake information but attach a publisher’s name, it becomes a legal risk. 5️. The courts will decide the future of AI These lawsuits will define what AI can legally use, how creators are compensated, and where the boundaries lie. Also read: India mandates phone makers to install government cybersecurity app
What happens next? The NYT vs Perplexity case will now move through federal court. With Perplexity valued at $20 billion, the outcome could ripple across the entire AI industry.
NYT’s lawsuit isn’t just a headline; it’s part of a much bigger battle over who controls information in the age of AI.
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