Penske Media Sues Google Over AI Summaries, Copyright

Rolling Stone, Variety Publisher Penske Media Sues Google Over AI Summaries

Penske Media Corporation alleges Google's 'AI Overviews' illegally use its copyrighted content, diverting traffic and revenue from iconic entertainment and culture publications.

Marcus J. Delany

Feb 28, 2026, 4:02 AM PT · 2 min read

Penske Media sues Google over AI's alleged illegal use of copyrighted content.

THE RUNDOWN

Penske Media Corporation (PMC) sued Google LLC and Alphabet Inc. on Sept. 12, 2025.
PMC alleges copyright infringement over Google's 'AI Overviews' using its content.
Lawsuit claims AI summaries divert traffic and revenue from sites like Rolling Stone and Variety.
PMC CEO Jay Penske cited duty to protect journalism.
Google denies claims, stating AI Overviews enhance content discovery.

In a significant move poised to reshape the digital media landscape, Penske Media Corporation (PMC), the powerhouse behind esteemed entertainment and culture outlets like Rolling Stone, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter, has filed a lawsuit against Google LLC and its parent company, Alphabet Inc. The suit, lodged in a federal district court in Washington D.C. on September 12, 2025, accuses Google of copyright infringement and antitrust violations concerning its AI-generated search summaries, known as 'AI Overviews' and 'Search Generative Experience.'

PMC, led by founder, chairman, and CEO Jay Penske, contends that Google's AI features are directly lifting journalism from its publications without authorization, repackaging it into summaries that appear at the top of search results. This practice, PMC argues, unfairly competes for user attention, causing a significant drop in traffic to their websites. The complaint highlights a reported decline in affiliate revenue by over one-third by the end of 2024, directly attributed to these AI overviews.

Jay Penske stated, "As a leading global publisher, we have a duty to protect PMC's best-in-class journalists and award-winning journalism as a source of truth." He added, "Furthermore, we have a responsibility to proactively fight for the future of digital media and preserve its integrity — all of which is threatened by Google's current actions." PMC also alleges that Google leverages its dominance in search to compel publishers into allowing their content to be used for AI summaries, or risk diminished visibility.

Google has pushed back against these claims. Google spokesperson José Castañeda countered, saying, "With AI Overviews, people find Search more helpful and use it more, creating new opportunities for content to be discovered." He concluded, "We will defend against these meritless claims." This lawsuit marks the first time a major U.S. publisher has taken legal action against Google over its AI search features, intensifying the ongoing legal battles between AI developers and content creators across the industry.