A California jury unanimously rejected Elon Musk's claims against OpenAI and its leadership, finding that his lawsuit was filed after the legal deadline expired. The verdict, delivered by nine jurors after what appears to have been a short deliberation period, sided with OpenAI's statute of limitations defense, which argued that any alleged harms Musk suffered occurred before 2021. The specific cutoff dates varied by claim: August 5, 2021 for the first count, November 14, 2021 for the second, and August 5, 2022 for the third.
Musk had accused Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, OpenAI, and Microsoft of "stealing a charity" by establishing a for-profit affiliate to the nonprofit AI research organization he helped found. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers noted after the verdict that there was substantial evidence supporting the jury's finding, adding she was prepared to dismiss the case immediately. Despite the melodramatic history of OpenAI that came to light during testimony from Silicon Valley figures, the case ultimately hinged on narrow legal questions about when Musk's grievances arose.
The ruling removes a significant obstacle for OpenAI as the company reportedly moves toward an initial public offering. Musk's lead attorney Marc Toberoff indicated plans to appeal the decision, responding with a single word when reached for comment: "Appeal."