Judge rules Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI will go to trial

A federal judge in California found there is enough evidence to send Elon Musk's 2024 lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman to a jury trial, rejecting motions to dismiss; the trial is scheduled for March.

A federal judge in California has ruled that Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, contains sufficient evidence to proceed to a jury trial. The suit, filed in 2024, alleges Musk was misled about OpenAI's transition from its original nonprofit orientation to a more profit-focused model. During a hearing, the judge indicated she would deny motions from Altman's attorneys to dismiss the case. The matter is set for trial in March. Court findings and claims: - U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said the record contains substantial evidence that supports moving the case to a jury, while noting much of the evidence is circumstantial. - The complaint states Musk contributed approximately $38 million to OpenAI under the understanding it would remain focused on nonprofit goals and broad public benefit. - OpenAI has disputed those claims, saying Musk was informed as early as 2018 about plans to pursue a for-profit approach and that the nonprofit parent still exercises control. - The judge's decision clears the path for a jury trial scheduled for March. Summary: The ruling allows factual disputes between Elon Musk and OpenAI to be resolved by a jury at the March trial. Undetermined at this time are the outcomes the jury may reach and any subsequent legal steps following the trial.