Major Japan newspaper sues 'free-riding' AI firm Perplexity

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, one of the world's biggest by circulation, is suing U.S.-based AI firm Perplexity for allegedly "free-riding" on its content on its search engine.

The lawsuit filed Thursday is one of a slew by media companies worldwide against AI firms using their material and is the first by a major Japanese news organization, Yomiuri said.

It accuses Perplexity of "free-riding on the results of the activities of news organizations, which have invested a great deal of effort and expense."

A spokesman for the paper added that this "could have a negative impact on accurate journalism ... and shake the foundations of democracy."

The lawsuit filed in Tokyo seeks damages of ¥2.2 billion ($14.7 million), equivalent to 120,000 Yomuiri articles used "without permission" between February and June.

It is also seeking damages for lost advertising revenue, saying that Perplexity users click only on its search summaries and not on the newspaper's website, reducing traffic.

The Yomiuri, with a daily circulation of around 6 million — down from over 10 million in 2010 — and some 2,500 reporters, is one of five major daily newspapers in Japan.

Perplexity was not immediately available for comment.

After a lawsuit by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post in October, Perplexity criticized the "adversarial posture" of many media as "shortsighted, unnecessary, and self-defeating."

They "prefer to live in a world where publicly reported facts are owned by corporations, and no one can do anything with those publicly reported facts without paying a toll," it said.

"We should all be working together to offer people amazing new tools and build genuinely pie-expanding businesses."

Source : https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/08/japan/crime-legal/yomiuri-sues-free-riding-ai-firm/

Comprehension

Which Japanese newspaper is suing Perplexity?
Where is Perplexity based?
What does Yomiuri accuse Perplexity of doing?
How much money is Yomiuri seeking in damages?
How many articles were allegedly used without permission?
What negative effect does Yomiuri claim the situation has on journalism?
How has the Yomiuri’s daily circulation changed since 2010?
What other newspapers have also sued Perplexity?
What does Perplexity say about the attitude of some media companies?
What does Perplexity suggest companies should do instead of fighting?

Discussion

Do you think AI companies should pay to use news articles? Why or why not?
How does using someone else’s work without permission affect the original creator?
Do you usually read news from official websites or from summaries on other platforms? Why?
How important is accurate journalism in your country?
What are the risks of getting news from AI summaries instead of full articles?
Do you think lawsuits can solve the problem between AI companies and media?
How might AI help journalism instead of harming it?
Would you pay to access high-quality news online? Why or why not?
How can news companies adapt to new technology without losing money?
Should facts be free for everyone to use, or should companies own the

Vocabulary

Circulation = The number of copies of a newspaper or magazine sold regularly.
Suing = Taking someone to court because you believe they caused harm.
Free-riding = Benefiting from someone else’s work without permission or payment.
Negative impact = Harmful effect.
Foundations = The basic principles or structures something is built on.
Damages = Money a court orders someone to pay for harm caused.
Advertising revenue = Money earned from showing ads.
Traffic (internet) = The number of people visiting a website.
Adversarial = Involving conflict or opposition.
Posture = Attitude or approach toward something.