Judge Allows OpenAI Counterclaim to Proceed
Elon Musk will have to face
OpenAI’s accusations in court that he orchestrated a “years-long harassment campaign” through legal actions and media attacks, aiming to damage the artificial intelligence company’s reputation and business prospects. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers refused Musk’s request to dismiss the harassment claims, setting the stage for a high-profile federal trial in March next year in Oakland, California[1][2].
Background: Dispute Rooted in AI Rivalries
The legal battle traces back to allegations by Musk, who has repeatedly criticized OpenAI for straying from its original nonprofit mission after accepting billions in funding from Microsoft following his departure from the OpenAI board in 2018. Musk, who later launched his own generative AI startup,
xAI, is accused by OpenAI of leveraging lawsuits, provocative social media posts, and media coverage to undermine its commercial viability—an effort OpenAI contends is designed to benefit his competing venture[1][2].
Key Elements of the Ruling
- The judge determined OpenAI’s counterclaim, originally filed in April, is “legally sufficient to proceed” against Musk.
- While some of Musk’s claims against OpenAI and Microsoft were dismissed, the core harassment allegations remain intact for trial.
- Judge Gonzalez Rogers highlighted that both sides engaged in “gamesmanship,” with each charging the other with hypocrisy over their respective conduct during the dispute.
Next Steps
The trial is scheduled to begin in March at the federal court in Oakland, with potential implications for the ongoing competition among prominent AI companies and the role of investor influence in the sector. Musk’s attorneys have not yet publicly responded to the ruling[2].
External Links
