Musk Faces OpenAI Harassment Trial Setback

OpenAI vs. Musk: $100 Billion Rivalry Heads to Trial Over Sabotage Allegations

A federal judge has dealt Elon Musk a significant legal setback, allowing OpenAI’s explosive accusations of a “years-long harassment campaign” to proceed toward trial. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied Musk’s motion to dismiss the claims, setting the stage for a high-stakes courtroom clash in spring 2026 over whether the billionaire weaponized lawsuits, social media attacks, and even a $97.4 billion “sham bid” to sabotage the AI company he helped create.

The Core Conflict

The ruling stems from Musk’s 2024 lawsuit accusing OpenAI of betraying its nonprofit mission by pursuing profit through its Microsoft partnership. OpenAI countersued months later, alleging Musk launched a relentless campaign to destabilize it after failing to seize control. Judge Gonzalez Rogers deemed OpenAI’s counterclaims legally “sufficient,” rejecting Musk’s bid to delay or dismiss them 158. Internal emails revealed by OpenAI showed Musk once advocated merging it with Tesla, undercutting his purity arguments about commercialization.

A Pattern of Harassment?

OpenAI’s filings detail tactics purportedly orchestrated by Musk: flooding the company with document demands, disparaging it as “dangerous” and “dishonest” on his social platform X, and filing “meritless” lawsuits. Most notably, OpenAI cited its unsolicited $97.4 billion takeover bid in early 2025, rejected by CEO Sam Altman as a “sham” designed to stoke uncertainty and benefit Musk’s rival AI venture, xAI. The judge’s ruling now compels Musk to defend these allegations under oath.

Apple Dragged Into the Feud

Parallel to the courtroom drama, Musk this week accused Apple of antitrust violations, claiming its App Store “makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI” to top download charts. He threatened “immediate legal action” by xAI. Apple retorted that its rankings are “fair and free of bias,” citing apps like DeepSeek and Perplexity that previously reached #1. Altman swiftly fired back on X: “This is a remarkable claim given what I’ve heard alleged that Elon manipulates X to benefit himself and harm competitors”.

Broader Stakes for AI’s Future

Legal experts suggest the case could redefine ethical boundaries in competitive AI development. “This isn’t just about two billionaires sparring. It tests whether founders can weaponize their influence to punish successors,” said Dr. Lena Petrova, a Stanford tech governance scholar. “If OpenAI proves harassment, it may deter coercive tactics industry-wide”. The DOJ’s ongoing antitrust probe into Apple plus rulings favoring App Store reforms adds regulatory pressure to Musk’s claims.

With discovery underway, both camps face scrutiny. Musk must defend his takeover bid and communications; OpenAI must justify its for-profit shift without disavowing safety commitments. Judge Gonzalez Rogers, who earlier called the fight “billionaires versus billionaires,” urged faster proceedings due to “public interest”. Yet with a 2026 trial date, this legal war promises years more public acrimony and a referendum on AI’s power struggles.

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