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Yomiuri Shimbun Files Lawsuit Against Perplexity for Unauthorized Use of AI-Generated Content

TOKYO, Aug 09 (News On Japan) - Yomiuri Shimbun has filed a lawsuit seeking over 2.1 billion yen in damages against U.S.-based AI startup Perplexity, alleging the company used its news articles and photos without permission in its generative AI search services.

Perplexity, which operates in the generative AI sector in the United States, offers a service where users input questions and receive automated answers generated by AI.

According to Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, approximately 120,000 of its articles were used between February and June 2025 to produce responses via the service. The company argues that such free-riding undermines the value of accurate journalism supported by thorough reporting and poses a threat to the foundations of democracy.

This marks the first time a major Japanese media organization has taken legal action against a generative AI company over the use of its content.

Source: FNN

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