The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruled That Amazon's Claim Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Doesn't Hold Up, As Comet Requires User

Perplexity has overturned an injunction that barred its AI shopping tool in the Comet browser from accessing Amazon, Bloomberg reports. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Amazon's claim under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) doesn't hold up, as Comet requires user direction to access Amazon, making the user, not Perplexity, the one accessing the servers. The court noted an injunction against conduct that likely doesn't violate the CFAA wouldn't serve the public interest, and Amazon's potential harm didn't warrant it.

Amazon, which sent a cease-and-desist letter in November 2025 and filed a lawsuit in March 2026, said it disagrees with the decision and is evaluating next steps. The ruling doesn't close the case; Amazon can seek a rehearing or Supreme Court review, and the lawsuit continues in San Francisco federal court.