Japan's largest newspaper sues AI startup Perplexity for copyright violations

Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, has sued AI startup Perplexity for copyright violations. Filed in Tokyo District Court, this suit is the first major copyright challenge in Japan against an AI company.

Yomiuri claims Perplexity accessed 119,467 articles from its site without permission and reproduced them in user queries, violating its “right of reproduction” and “right to transmit to the public.” The newspaper seeks nearly $15 million in damages and an injunction against further reproduction.

A Perplexity spokesperson expressed regret over the misunderstanding and stated their commitment to work with publishers effectively.

This case highlights ongoing concerns over AI companies using copyrighted material without adequate compensation to news organizations.