Rolling Stone vs Google AI: Who Pays the Price?

Penske Media Corporation, owner of Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter, has launched a lawsuit against Google over AI-generated summaries in search results. The company argues these “AI Overviews” are cutting into traffic and revenue by giving users what they need without visiting the original articles.

This isn’t isolated. Chegg, independent publishers in Europe, and the News / Media Alliance have raised similar concerns, calling it “the definition of theft.” Google claims the summaries make search more helpful—but publishers report significant revenue drops, including over a third from affiliate links this year.

Penske faces a tough choice: block Google and vanish from search, or continue feeding AI content at the risk of their own business. The issue is part of a growing trend, with major outlets like News Corp, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Merriam-Webster also challenging AI content usage.

The question is no longer just about AI—it’s about survival, revenue, and who really benefits from the content being created.

Publishers are pushing back. Are search engines next?