Trademark lawsuit over ‘Perplexity’ name defeated by Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI’s request to end the dispute after PSS’s attorneys withdrew from the case in August and were never replaced was granted by US District Judge Jacqueline Corley.
Perplexity AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup, convinced a federal judge in California to dismiss a trademark lawsuit against it after the plaintiff, software company Perplexity Solved Solutions, failed to retain attorneys to handle its case.
Perplexity AI’s request to end the dispute after PSS’s attorneys withdrew from the case in August and were never replaced was granted by US District Judge Jacqueline Corley. PSS could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson for Perplexity AI refused to comment on the decision.
PSS is based out of Plano, Texas and was founded in 2017. According to its website, it offers: “AI-driven solutions for seamless collaboration, data analytics, and intelligent decision making. It received a federal trademark for ‘Perplexity’ covering software services in 2022; PSS said. Perplexity AI was sued for trademark infringement by PSS in January wherein PSS argued that its name would confuse consumers. PSS refused to sell its trademark to Perplexity AI in 2023; the complaint said.
Attorneys for PSS – Eleanor Lackman and Marissa Lewis of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp – asked to withdraw in July, reportedly citing “an irreparable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship” that made it “unreasonably difficult for MSK to carry out the representation effectively.” The attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment and more information.
Dawn Mobley, a Texas woman, told the court in a series of emails in September and October that she was the owner of PSS and asked for more time to find new attorneys, reportedly citing a “major attack including credit tampering” that had affected her finances. Judge Corley rejected her request on October 9.
Mobley did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.
The case is Perplexity Solved Solutions Inc Versus Perplexity AI Inc, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 3:25-cv-00989.