Britannica and Merriam-Webster Take Perplexity to Court Over Definition Copying

Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster have jointly initiated legal action against Perplexity, an artificial intelligence startup, alleging copyright infringement. The lawsuit contends that Perplexity has been unlawfully replicating definitions from their respective online databases without authorization. This legal battle brings into sharp focus the evolving legal considerations regarding AI’s utilization of copyrighted material. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary compensation for damages incurred and a court order to restrain Perplexity from further unauthorized usage of their intellectual property. Many observers view this case as a crucial test case for how copyright laws will be interpreted and enforced in the context of rapid advancements in generative AI technologies.