BBC May Sue Perplexity Over Alleged Content Scraping
The BBC has accused Perplexity AI of using its content without permission to train the company’s default AI model, according to the Financial Times. This move aligns the BBC with several other media organizations that have previously raised similar concerns. The broadcaster has warned that it may pursue legal action unless Perplexity ceases content scraping, deletes any existing material derived from BBC sources, and submits a proposal for financial compensation.
According to the FT report, a letter was sent to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas detailing these demands. The BBC confirmed the existence of this communication in a statement to Reuters. Although the BBC has not filed a lawsuit yet, the threat of legal action adds to growing pressure on AI developers over copyright issues.
Perplexity, in response, rejected the BBC’s claims. In a statement to Reuters, the company said the allegations were “manipulative and opportunistic” and accused the broadcaster of a “fundamental misunderstanding of technology, the internet and intellectual property law.”
A Broader Pattern of Media Tensions
Since generative AI tools like ChatGPT entered the public sphere, publishers have voiced increasing concern about how these systems gather and present information. Many argue that AI firms benefit unfairly from content created by others. For example, the New York Times issued a “cease and desist” letter to Perplexity last October, demanding that the startup stop using its content for AI training.
Moreover, other media outlets, including Forbes and Wired, have also accused Perplexity of republishing content without attribution. As a response, Perplexity has initiated a revenue-sharing model to appease publishers, though concerns persist. According to the FT, the BBC claimed that its content was reproduced verbatim and that search results generated by Perplexity often included direct links to its website.
High Stakes for a Rapidly Growing Startup
Despite the controversy, Perplexity continues to grow rapidly. The company, backed by high-profile investors such as Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and SoftBank, is reportedly in advanced discussions to raise $500 million. If successful, this funding round could value the company at $14 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Perplexity’s approach to information retrieval mimics systems like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, offering users quick summaries of web-based content. As such tools become more prevalent, disputes over copyright and fair use are likely to intensify.
