CNN Files Lawsuit Against Perplexity AI
CNN has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity, alleging that the AI startup's tools generate "verbatim" copies of its copyrighted articles and provide users with content locked behind CNN's paywall. The lawsuit, filed in a New York court on Thursday, marks the latest legal battle between a major media company and an artificial intelligence firm over content usage and copyright infringement.
Allegations of Unauthorized Scraping
The lawsuit accuses Perplexity of ignoring CNN's efforts to block its web crawlers from scraping content. According to the complaint, Perplexity's AI search engine and its AI browser, Comet, have been taking CNN's reporting without permission or compensation. The filing states: "Human beings report, research, write, edit, and create the content that Perplexity takes without permission or compensation."
Specific Example of Infringement
In one instance, CNN claims that simply prompting Perplexity's AI with the title of its article "What's next for Minneapolis? A shaky promise, mounting tensions and the fight for control" resulted in the tool producing "substantial" verbatim portions of the original work.
Growing List of Legal Battles
CNN joins a growing list of companies taking legal action against Perplexity. Other plaintiffs include The New York Times, Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster, and News Corp (parent company of The Wall Street Journal). Additionally, Amazon and Reddit have filed separate lawsuits against the AI startup. These cases highlight the escalating tension between AI companies and content creators over the use of copyrighted material for training and generating responses.
Failed Licensing Negotiations
According to the lawsuit, CNN and Perplexity had previously discussed a potential deal to offer CNN content through Perplexity's Comet Plus subscription in October 2025. However, the negotiations "did not lead to a final agreement" due to disagreements over how Perplexity could use CNN content in its answers. CNN scrapped the agreement in November and sent a formal letter demanding Perplexity stop using its content and trademarks. Perplexity allegedly did not respond.
Legal Demands and Response
CNN is seeking monetary damages and a permanent injunction to block Perplexity's allegedly unlawful conduct. When reached for comment, Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer stated, "You can't copyright facts." This case underscores the broader industry debate over fair use, copyright in the age of AI, and the value of original journalism.
Implications for AI and Media
This lawsuit sets a significant precedent for how AI companies interact with publisher content. As AI tools become more sophisticated, media organizations are increasingly fighting to protect their intellectual property and subscription-based revenue models. The outcome of CNN v. Perplexity could shape future regulations and licensing agreements between news publishers and AI developers.
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