Encyclopedia Britannica Challenges Perplexity Over AI Content and Trademark Use

What Happened

Encyclopedia Britannica has formally asked AI search startup Perplexity to stop displaying its brand logos on AI-generated content, especially when that content is inaccurate or misleading. Britannica claims Perplexity is misusing trademarks by attaching their logo to summaries or responses that did not come from official Britannica sources. The issue underscores ongoing tensions between AI companies and content owners over intellectual property and brand integrity. The request was precipitated after users noticed Perplexity summaries labeled with Britannica\’s logo even when the underlying information was not provided by Britannica. Perplexity has not yet publicly responded to the demand.

Why It Matters

This dispute highlights challenges facing AI-powered content platforms regarding copyright, trust, and credibility. As more generative AI tools aggregate and reformat information, content owners risk loss of control over branding and messaging. Clearer guidelines may be needed as generative AI continues to reshape content discovery and attribution. Read more in our AI News Hub