A U.S. appeals court has temporarily lifted a California judge’s injunction that had prohibited Perplexity AI Inc. from utilizing its artificial intelligence-driven shopping agent, Comet, on Amazon.com Inc.’s marketplace. The two-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, comprising Judges Eric Miller and Patrick Bumatay, indicated that while the order is suspended, it will undergo further examination, with a more definitive ruling expected in the future.
The conflict began in late 2025 when Amazon issued a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity, requesting that the company refrain from using its technology to purchase items on Amazon. In response, Perplexity accused Amazon of employing intimidation tactics to stifle innovation. Amazon has contended that the use of automated purchasing bots compromises the quality of the shopping experience and customer service, asserting that fewer human interactions could lead to decreased advertising revenue. Notably, Amazon has developed its own bots designed to assist customers with purchase decisions, yet Perplexity’s Comet does not require users to log into the platform.
“We believe users have the right to choose their own AI,” a spokesperson for Perplexity stated following the recent ruling. The company has previously criticized Amazon for attempting to obstruct methods that allow users to bypass the “pervasive advertising” on its site.
Amazon’s legal team cited the 1986 federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which prohibits unauthorized access to computer systems, as part of its argument against Perplexity. The company also alleged that Perplexity violated California’s anti-hacking laws. In its defense, Perplexity argued that its shopping agent does not directly access Amazon’s systems, pointing out that it is the users of the Comet browser who are accessing Amazon. “At bottom, the only relevant access to Amazon’s servers was by users of the Comet browser, not by Perplexity,” the company noted, maintaining that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act does not restrict companies from accessing publicly available websites.
Looking ahead, Perplexity is expected to submit additional arguments to the 9th Circuit in April, emphasizing its stance on user rights and the potential implications for innovation in the retail sector.
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