The lawsuit intensifies the growing clash between news publishers and AI companies over control, copyright, and the future of digital journalism.

The New York Times has filed a major lawsuit against Perplexity AI, accusing the fast-growing artificial intelligence startup of copying, distributing, and displaying millions of its articles without permission as part of the company’s effort to fuel its generative AI platforms.

The action marks one of the most high-profile legal battles yet in the escalating fight between traditional news publishers and emerging AI firms that rely heavily on large-scale content ingestion to develop their tools

The Times argues that Perplexity used both free and paywalled material without authorization, allowing the startup to benefit commercially while undermining the value of the newspaper’s original reporting.

The complaint also alleges that Perplexity’s systems produced fabricated outputs—commonly referred to as hallucinations—and presented them as Times journalism, even placing the newspaper’s registered trademarks beside inaccurate information.

This, the Times says, risks confusing users and damaging the integrity of its brand at a moment when the accuracy of information online is already under intense scrutiny.

In its filing, the Times sought damages, injunctive relief, and broader restrictions that would prevent Perplexity from continuing to leverage its reporting without proper licensing or compensation.

A spokesperson for the Times underscored that the outlet supports responsible advancements in artificial intelligence but opposes what it sees as the unauthorized extraction and monetization of its content.

The case adds to a series of legal challenges facing Perplexity, which has been the subject of mounting complaints from several publishers as the company attempts to secure a foothold in the competitive generative AI market.

Just a day earlier, the Chicago Tribune also lodged a lawsuit, making similar allegations about unauthorized content usage.
Perplexity, in response, has pushed back sharply against the claims, arguing that the lawsuits represent outdated resistance to technological innovation.

The company maintains that it is not engaged in large-scale scraping to train foundational models and instead says it merely indexes publicly available web pages while offering citations for factual references.

The broader legal dispute reflects a growing global debate over how AI companies collect and use copyrighted content, raising questions about fair use, compensation models, and data transparency.

This conflict is not limited to Perplexity alone; major platforms across the tech industry face similar accusations as publishers push back on the unlicensed use of their intellectual property.

The case also follows earlier tensions between the Times and several technology firms, including its ongoing friction with OpenAI, as the newspaper seeks to defend the commercial and editorial value of its journalism.

Meanwhile, Perplexity continues to face legal scrutiny from other major content organizations, including Encyclopedia Britannica as well as media groups linked to Rupert Murdoch’s Dow Jones and the New York Post.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, comes more than a year after the Times issued a cease-and-desist notice, underscoring the depth of the dispute and signaling a new phase in the legal battle over AI data rights.

At the same time, other technology companies such as Reddit have taken legal action of their own, accusing Perplexity and others of unauthorized data extraction from their platforms.

The growing wave of litigation highlights the shifting power dynamics between content creators and AI developers, especially as news organizations search for sustainable models in a digital ecosystem increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

The outcome of this legal confrontation could have far-reaching implications for how AI firms access premium journalism, how publishers negotiate licensing, and how courts interpret copyright in the age of machine learning.

Taiwanese investigators intensify scrutiny in a high-profile case involving a former TSMC executive accused of leaking sensitive information, as both companies involved issue firm and measured responses.

Taiwan authorities have launched a significant investigation into alleged trade secret violations, carrying out raids at the residences of a former senior executive of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

The probe centers on Wei-Jen Lo, a long-time industry figure who previously held a top leadership role at TSMC, and who joined Intel earlier this year following his retirement from the chipmaking giant.

Prosecutors confirmed that investigators executed a search warrant at two properties belonging to Lo, where computers, storage devices, documents, and digital equipment were seized for detailed examination.

Authorities stated that the operation was conducted under Taiwan’s National Security Act, reflecting the sensitivity surrounding advanced chip technologies and the strategic importance of semiconductor intellectual property.

Officials added that a court approved a separate petition to secure Lo’s financial assets, including shares and real estate, as a precautionary measure while the investigation continues.

TSMC had earlier filed a formal lawsuit in Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court, alleging that there is a high possibility the former executive transferred or disclosed confidential materials to Intel.

The company expressed concern that proprietary information related to cutting-edge chip production, including knowledge connected to its leading-edge 5-nanometer, 3-nm, and 2-nm manufacturing technologies, may have been compromised.

Lo, who worked at TSMC for more than two decades and played a key role in steering advanced process development, has not issued a public statement addressing the allegations made against him.

Intel, which rehired Lo in October after his retirement from TSMC, offered a strong denial of the accusations, stating that the company has seen no indication that its new employee engaged in any misuse of confidential data.

The U.S. chipmaker emphasized that it upholds rigorous internal standards designed to prevent the use or transfer of proprietary materials, and noted that compliance policies are actively monitored and applied across its global operations.

Intel added that Lo maintains a long-standing reputation within the semiconductor sector for professional integrity and technical excellence, highlighting that the mobility of talent between companies is common and essential for innovation in the industry.

The company also explained that it routinely trains employees on intellectual property protection, and that it remains committed to cooperating with lawful processes while safeguarding its own corporate standards.

Prior to his two-decade tenure at TSMC, Lo had spent 18 years working at Intel, giving him extensive experience across both leading chip manufacturers and contributing to his status as a respected figure in the field.

Taiwan’s investigation comes at a time when global competition in semiconductor technology is intensifying, with governments and companies paying close attention to the movement of experts, patents, and advanced manufacturing techniques.

The case has triggered discussions within the technology community about the balance between open talent mobility, and the need for companies to protect strategic knowledge that forms the foundation of their most advanced technologies.

Authorities in Taiwan have not issued a timeline for the next steps in the inquiry, but signaled that the case will be handled with thoroughness given the sensitive nature of the semiconductor sector.

As the investigation proceeds, industry observers will be watching closely for new developments, particularly as both companies involved continue to navigate a complex global environment defined by innovation, competition, and high-level expertise.