Perplexity AI Inc. is facing a legal storm in California after being hit with a trademark infringement lawsuit from a smaller software company. Perplexity Solved Solutions Inc. accuses the AI-powered search engine of stepping on its trademark rights and causing significant consumer confusion, asserting that Perplexity AI’s actions threaten to undermine years of hard-earned goodwill.
Trademark Dispute Ignites Legal Battle
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court, alleges that Perplexity AI knowingly infringed on Perplexity Solved Solutions’ registered trademark, which the software company secured from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in November 2022. According to the complaint, both companies provide highly similar software-related goods and services, making their use of the “Perplexity” mark a potential legal minefield.
“The defendant has acted with full knowledge of our prior rights, and their continued use of the mark is damaging to our reputation,” the complaint reads, emphasizing that Perplexity Solved Solutions has a well-established presence online, including a robust website and active social media channels.
A Pattern of Alleged Legal Violations
This legal clash marks a troubling pattern for Perplexity AI, which is no stranger to infringement allegations. Perplexity Solved Solutions pointed out that in October, the publishers of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post filed a lawsuit accusing Perplexity AI of using vast amounts of copyrighted material without permission.
