Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun are filing a joint lawsuit in Tokyo against AI startup Perplexity for copyright infringement, seeking about $15 million each and the deletion of archived material.

They accuse Perplexity of unauthorized copying, storing, and use of their articles, with damages sought over 2.2 billion yen per publisher.

The case fits a global wave of publishers challenging AI platforms over content usage, with parallel actions in the United States, Europe, and India shaping the regulatory conversation.

Perplexity is described as an AI-powered search engine that delivers AI-generated, citation-backed answers sourced from the web.

The lawsuit highlights potential licensing needs for AI firms and broader implications for journalistic credibility and revenue in the media ecosystem.

In India, the DNPA argues the practice represents commercial free riding amid no clear regulatory framework for AI training data usage.

Delhi High Court allows expansion of ANI v. OpenAI to include the Indian Music Industry, illustrating ongoing debates over jurisdiction and liability.

Some AI firms are pursuing revenue-sharing with publishers, with Perplexity reportedly engaging in revenue-sharing agreements with Time, Fortune, and Der Spiegel.

U.S. headlines show The New York Times, Dow Jones, and the New York Post pursuing training-data lawsuits against OpenAI, alongside licensing deals or refusals in Europe.

Observers say the case could force a clearer licensing regime and influence how media integrity and trust are maintained in an AI-enabled information landscape.

The defendant in this action is Perplexity, and the court action is taking place in Tokyo, Japan.

The broader picture includes additional publishers—both Japanese and Western—considering or pursuing similar actions against AI platforms over content usage.