Summary:
Perplexity sued for alleged trademark infringement by Perplexity Solved Solutions.
The complaint claims Perplexity's branding has caused consumer confusion.
Legal actions include seeking an injunction against the use of the trademark and damages.
Perplexity is also facing another lawsuit from News Corp over content issues.
The trademark dispute highlights challenges in the AI startup landscape.
Perplexity, a startup specializing in AI-powered search tools, is embroiled in a federal lawsuit for allegedly infringing on a trademark held by another company, Perplexity Solved Solutions. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and accuses Perplexity of using the brand name “Perplexity” without authorization.
Background of the Dispute
Perplexity Solved Solutions, based in Plano, Texas, has been operating since 2017 and successfully registered the Perplexity trademark in November 2022. The company primarily offers HR and workplace collaboration software, including a product called Perplexity Meet. They allege that Perplexity’s use of the name began in August 2022, coinciding with the launch of its AI search engine and the registration of the domain perplexity.ai.
Similarities in Offerings
The complaint highlights that the products from both companies target similar customer bases. For instance, both Perplexity Solved Solutions’ Perplexity Meet and Perplexity's Perplexity Spaces serve as collaboration platforms.
Legal Allegations
Perplexity Solved Solutions claims that Perplexity has “saturated the market” with its infringing branding, leading to consumer confusion. They have pointed out instances where social media users have mistakenly tagged Perplexity in posts meant for them. The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief, including an injunction against the use of the trademark “Perplexity” and damages for trademark infringement under the Lanham Act.
Ongoing Legal Troubles
This lawsuit adds to the challenges faced by Perplexity, which is also involved in a separate legal dispute with News Corp over allegations of content theft.
As the situation develops, both parties have yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit. TechCrunch will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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