CNN sues AI search startup Perplexity for allegedly copying news stories without permission

CNN has sued AI search startup Perplexity AI in federal court in New York, accusing the company of illegally copying and distributing its copyrighted news articles, videos, and images to power its AI-driven search products. The complaint states Perplexity used thousands of CNN’s works to generate 'identical or substantially similar' content, undermining the economics of original journalism. The lawsuit follows similar legal challenges faced by Perplexity, including cases from *The New York Times*, Dow Jones, and Reddit over alleged copyright infringement and data scraping. CNN’s legal action marks the latest escalation in a broader dispute between media publishers and AI firms over the use of copyrighted material to train and operate AI systems. In a statement, CNN argued that unauthorized use of its reporting harms the financial sustainability of journalism. The broadcaster is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a court order to prevent further unauthorized use of its intellectual property. Perplexity rejected the allegations through spokesperson Jesse Dwyer, who stated, 'You can't copyright facts.' The company’s response highlights a key legal debate in the industry over whether AI systems can legally incorporate copyrighted content without permission. Since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, publishers and content creators have increasingly raised concerns about AI companies using their material without consent or compensation. Some media organizations have opted for licensing agreements with AI firms, allowing controlled access to news content in exchange for payments and attribution. The case adds to mounting legal pressure on Perplexity, which now faces multiple lawsuits from major publishers over its data scraping practices.