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yesterday

Penske Media Files Antitrust Suit Against Google Over AI Overviews

The complaint argues Google conditions search indexing on permission to reuse publishers’ content in AI summaries, which Penske says has cut referrals and revenue.

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The music magazine’s owner said Google’s “current actions” were a threat to journalism

Overview

  • Penske Media, owner of Rolling Stone, Variety and Billboard, filed the federal case in Washington, D.C., alleging Google illegally repurposes its journalism and abuses search dominance.
  • The suit claims Google ties inclusion in Search to allowing articles to be used in AI Overviews and for AI training, leaving publishers to choose between deindexing or supplying content.
  • Penske says about 20% of Google searches leading to its sites now display AI Overviews and reports affiliate revenue fell by more than a third from its peak by the end of 2024.
  • Google spokesperson José Castañeda called the claims meritless and said AI Overviews make Search more helpful and drive traffic to a wider range of sites.
  • The filing is the first by a major U.S. publisher targeting AI Overviews and follows similar complaints from industry peers, including a February lawsuit by Chegg and referral-drop reports from DMG Media.