Amazon Wins Temporary Injunction Against Perplexity's Comet Browser
Key Facts
- A San Francisco federal court granted Amazon a preliminary injunction blocking Perplexity's Comet AI agent from making purchases on Amazon's marketplace.
- Perplexity has one week to appeal the decision or must stop accessing password-protected areas of Amazon's systems and destroy its copies of Amazon's data.
- District Judge Maxine Chesney ruled that Perplexity accesses user accounts with the user's permission but without Amazon's authorization.
- Amazon had sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity in November, arguing the practice violates its terms of service.
- Perplexity stated it will continue fighting for users' right to choose their preferred AI tools.
Lead paragraph
Amazon has secured a significant legal victory against Perplexity AI, winning a temporary injunction that prevents the AI company's Comet web browser from using its shopping agent to make purchases on Amazon's marketplace. A federal judge in San Francisco ruled this week that Perplexity must halt unauthorized access to password-protected Amazon user accounts, even when users explicitly grant permission through the Comet browser. The decision marks an early win for Amazon in its ongoing battle to protect its platform from AI-powered scraping and automated shopping tools.
Court Decision and Legal Rationale
According to Bloomberg, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney determined that Amazon provided strong evidence of unauthorized access. In her ruling, Judge Chesney wrote: "Amazon has provided strong evidence that Perplexity, through its Comet browser, accesses with the Amazon user's permission but without authorization by Amazon, the user's password-protected account."
The preliminary injunction requires Perplexity to cease using the Comet AI agent for Amazon purchases while the broader case proceeds. If Perplexity does not successfully appeal within one week, it must stop all access to protected portions of Amazon's systems and destroy any data it has collected from the retail giant.
Amazon's legal argument centers on violations of its terms of service. The company contends that even with user consent, third-party AI tools like Comet are not authorized to log into accounts, retrieve personal data, or execute purchases on its platform. This position reflects Amazon's broader efforts to control how its marketplace data is accessed amid the rapid rise of AI shopping assistants.
Background of the Dispute
The conflict escalated in November when Amazon sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity regarding its AI shopping capabilities. Perplexity's Comet browser, which functions as an AI-powered web agent, can navigate sites, fill forms, and complete transactions on behalf of users. While this feature aims to simplify online shopping by automating comparisons and purchases, Amazon views it as an infringement on its control over the customer experience.
Perplexity has positioned Comet as a user-empowering tool that gives consumers more choice in how they interact with the internet. The company's representative responded to the court's decision by saying, "Perplexity will continue to fight for the right of internet users to choose whatever AI they want."
This case highlights growing tensions between traditional e-commerce platforms and AI startups seeking to build agents that operate across the web. Perplexity, best known for its AI search engine that provides conversational answers with citations, has expanded into browser technology with Comet to create a more proactive AI assistant.
Amazon's Response and Stated Goals
An Amazon spokesperson emphasized the importance of platform security and user trust. "The preliminary injunction will prevent Perplexity’s unauthorized access to the Amazon store and is an important step in maintaining a trusted shopping experience for Amazon customers," Amazon spokesperson Lara Hendrickson told Bloomberg in an emailed statement.
For Amazon, the ruling represents more than just blocking one competitor's tool. It reinforces the company's ability to enforce its terms of service against automated systems, even when users voluntarily provide login credentials. This has implications for other AI agents and browser extensions that might attempt similar automated shopping flows.
The decision comes as AI companies race to develop autonomous agents capable of performing complex online tasks. Perplexity's Comet is part of a larger industry trend toward "agentic AI" — systems that don't just answer questions but take action on behalf of users across different websites and services.
Impact on Developers, Users, and the Industry
For developers building AI agents, the injunction sends a clear signal that major platforms like Amazon are willing to use legal measures to restrict automated access, even when users consent. This could complicate efforts to create seamless cross-platform AI assistants that work across multiple retail sites.
Users who were testing Comet's shopping features on Amazon will likely lose that capability in the near term. While the tool promised convenience by handling price comparisons, cart management, and purchases automatically, those relying on it will need to revert to manual shopping or alternative AI tools that don't directly interface with Amazon accounts.
The case also raises broader questions about data ownership and access in the AI era. When a user grants an AI tool permission to use their account, does that override the platform's terms of service? Courts will likely face similar questions as more AI agents emerge.
From a competitive standpoint, the ruling strengthens Amazon's position against AI-native companies attempting to insert themselves between retailers and customers. Amazon has invested heavily in its own AI capabilities, including product recommendations and search enhancements, and appears determined to prevent external AI tools from leveraging its marketplace data without permission.
What's Next
Perplexity now has one week to file an appeal against the preliminary injunction. The company has indicated it plans to continue fighting the case, suggesting this is far from the final chapter in the dispute.
The broader lawsuit between Amazon and Perplexity will continue in San Francisco federal court. Future rulings could set important precedents for how AI agents interact with password-protected websites and whether user consent can override platform restrictions.
Industry observers will be watching closely to see if other major platforms, such as Walmart, Shopify, or major publishers, take similar legal action against AI agents that scrape or automate interactions with their services. The outcome could influence the development trajectory of the entire agentic AI sector.
For now, Perplexity must adjust its Comet browser to exclude Amazon functionality or risk further legal consequences. The company may explore alternative approaches, such as working with retailers through official APIs or partnerships rather than direct account access.
This case underscores the friction between innovative AI applications and established platform rules as the technology industry navigates new territory around automated agents and data access.