Dictionary Giants Sue Perplexity AI

Britannica and Merriam-Webster have filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, accusing the startup of copying their content for its “answer engine.” 

Britannica and Merriam-Webster argue Perplexity crossed the line by scraping articles, republishing them without consent, and even attaching their names to AI-generated errors. The publishers claim Perplexity’s summaries redirect readers away from their sites, cutting into traffic and revenue.

From newsrooms to niche blogs, any content owner could be affected as courts decide where copyright fits in the AI era. This lawsuit is part of a broader pushback against tech companies using creative work without permission.

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Text: Brittain, Blake. ‘Encyclopedia Britannica Sues Perplexity over AI “Answer Engine”’. Reuters, 11 Sep. 2025. Litigation. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/encyclopedia-britannica-sues-perplexity-over-ai-answer-engine-2025-09-11/.

Photo: 'Words in Dictionary' by Nothing Ahead: https://www.pexels.com/photo/words-in-dictionary-4440720/