New York Times Sues Perplexity AI for Copyright Infringement | Latest News Dec 2025

New York Times Sues Perplexity AI Over Alleged Copyright Infringement

The New York Times (NYT) has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI in the U.S. Federal Court, alleging that the AI company copied millions of its articles—including paywalled content—without permission to train its generative AI services. According to NYT, Perplexity reproduced its content “verbatim or near-verbatim” and presented it to users, potentially harming the newspaper’s reputation and financial interests.

In its complaint, NYT requested that Perplexity AI be restrained from using copyrighted material and be held financially liable for damages. NYT spokesperson Graham James stated:

“While we support responsible use of AI, we strongly oppose Perplexity’s unauthorized use of our work.”

Perplexity AI previously claimed that it only indexes publicly available web pages for reference purposes. However, the lawsuit alleges that the company also scraped paid subscription content and distributed it to users. This is part of a broader trend where multiple media organizations, including the Chicago Tribune, have taken legal action against AI companies over content use.

Why This Case Matters

This lawsuit highlights critical issues around journalistic content protection and the ethical use of AI technology. If AI companies are allowed to use copyrighted material without permission, subscription models and journalism’s financial sustainability could be at risk. The court’s decision may set a precedent defining how AI and media can coexist responsibly.

NYT’s action represents not only a single company’s fight but also a broader effort to establish a framework where AI innovation is encouraged while protecting journalists’ rights and media organizations’ investments.