Chicago Tribune sues Perplexity

Published: Friday, December 5, 2025 at 1:20 am

Chicago Tribune Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against AI Search Engine Perplexity

Chicago, IL - The Chicago Tribune has initiated legal action against the AI search engine Perplexity, alleging copyright infringement. The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, centers on claims that Perplexity is utilizing the Tribune's copyrighted content without authorization.

According to the complaint, the Tribune's legal team contacted Perplexity in mid-October to inquire about the use of its content. Perplexity's legal representatives responded that while they did not train their models directly with the Tribune's work, they may receive non-verbatim factual summaries. However, the Tribune's lawyers contend that Perplexity is delivering Tribune content verbatim.

A key aspect of the Tribune's lawsuit involves Perplexity's Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) system. RAG is a method designed to enhance the accuracy of AI models by drawing information from verified sources. The Tribune alleges that Perplexity is incorporating its content within its RAG systems, obtained without permission. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Perplexity's Comet browser circumvents the Tribune's paywall, providing detailed summaries of articles.

This is not the Tribune's first legal battle related to AI. In April, the Tribune, along with 16 other news publications from MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing, sued OpenAI and Microsoft over the use of their content for model training. That case is still ongoing. Additionally, nine publications from the same group filed a separate lawsuit against the model maker and its cloud provider in November.

The legal landscape surrounding AI and copyright is evolving. While numerous lawsuits have been filed against model makers for using copyrighted material in model training, the Tribune's case may shed light on the legal implications of RAG technology. Perplexity has not yet issued a public response to the Tribune's lawsuit. The company is also facing similar legal challenges from other entities, including Reddit and Dow Jones. Amazon also sent a cease and desist letter to Perplexity.

BNN's Perspective: This lawsuit highlights the growing tension between traditional media and the rapidly advancing AI industry. While AI offers exciting possibilities, it's crucial to ensure that creators are fairly compensated for their work. The courts will need to carefully consider the nuances of RAG technology and its impact on copyright law to strike a balance that fosters innovation while protecting intellectual property.

Keywords: Chicago Tribune, Perplexity, lawsuit, copyright infringement, AI, RAG, Retrieval Augmented Generation, OpenAI, Microsoft, MediaNews Group, Tribune Publishing, Comet browser, paywall, legal, news, content, verbatim, model training

Full Story