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Educational tech company Chegg sues Google over AI Overviews

Feb 25, 2025 - engadget.com
Chegg, an educational tech company, has filed a lawsuit against Google in federal court, alleging that Google's "AI Overviews" harm its website traffic and revenue. Chegg claims that to appear in Google's search results, it must provide content that Google republishes without permission in AI-generated answers, which unfairly compete for user attention and violate U.S. antitrust laws. Chegg accuses Google of abusing its monopoly position to force companies to supply materials for these AI Overviews, threatening exclusion from search results if they do not comply. The company argues that Google's practices amount to unlawful reciprocal dealing, citing a federal judge's previous ruling that Google is a search monopolist.

Chegg's lawsuit is part of a broader trend of companies suing Google over alleged intellectual property misappropriation, though its use of the Sherman Act is a novel approach. The company emphasizes the value of its educational content for AI applications and claims that Google's actions particularly impact its business. Google, in response, stated that it sends billions of clicks to websites daily and that AI Overviews increase traffic diversity. As of January 2025, there have been 38 copyright lawsuits related to AI in the U.S., with mixed outcomes.

Key takeaways:

  • Chegg has sued Google, claiming that Google's "AI Overviews" hurt its traffic and revenue by republishing content without permission.
  • Chegg accuses Google of abusing its monopoly position to force companies to supply materials for its AI-generated answers, potentially violating antitrust laws.
  • Google defends itself by stating that AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites and denies any wrongdoing.
  • Chegg's lawsuit is part of a broader trend of companies suing over AI-related IP issues, with 38 copyright lawsuits filed in the US as of January 2025.
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