Can a platform refuse an AI agent that its own customer has authorized?
What it could establish
Whether a site's terms and technical blocks can stop an agent acting for a signed-in customer, or whether the customer's authorization carries through.
What would settle it
A ruling on the motion to dismiss or the merits, a settlement, or a common access standard adopted across major retailers.
The other reading
The case may turn on narrow statutory questions about computer access and never reach a general rule for agents. Industry terms like Walmart's may settle practice before any court does.
Status history
Motion to dismiss the amended complaint pending (D-006).
Ninth Circuit's preliminary view treats the user, not Perplexity, as the one accessing Amazon (D-003).
Every change is dated. Earlier assessments stay visible.
The developments behind it
Walmart sets terms for AI shopping agents: an MCP-based Agent Gateway launching as a beta for companies and developers, agent profiles in customer accounts with approval for every purchase or a spending limit, the same prices for agents as for people, and blocking for agents that don't comply.
PrimaryPerplexity moves to dismiss the amended complaint, arguing it repeats theories the Ninth Circuit already rejected and that Amazon's terms are an at-will contract.
ReportingAmazon files an amended complaint adding tortious interference with contract. It alleges Comet for iOS copied users' session cookies to Perplexity's servers, which then reached Amazon directly, contradicting Perplexity's appellate briefs.
AllegationAmazon blocks Meta's Muse assistant from Amazon.com, saying unauthorized agent access violates its Conditions of Use. Meta says Muse cannot see users' passwords or payment methods.
Reporting- Amazon blocks Meta's Muse and accuses Perplexity of misleading a court The Next Web (citing Bloomberg)
Ninth Circuit vacates the preliminary injunction against Perplexity. On this record, the user, not Perplexity, accessed Amazon's servers with the agent as a tool. Not a merits ruling; the court declined to set a broader rule for agentic AI.
Primary