A U.S. federal judge has denied Elon Musk’s attempt to dismiss harassment claims filed by OpenAI, marking another dramatic turn in the ongoing legal battle between the Tesla CEO and the artificial intelligence startup he co-founded in 2015.
Judge Rules Musk Must Face Harassment Allegations
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Musk must answer OpenAI’s allegations of a “years-long harassment campaign”. The claims accuse Musk of using press statements, social media posts, legal filings, and even a “sham bid for OpenAI’s assets” to harm the company.
OpenAI’s lawsuit asserts that Musk’s actions were aimed at damaging the startup’s reputation and operations after he left the company, well before ChatGPT became a global sensation.
Origin of the Legal Dispute
The feud began when Musk sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman last year, accusing them of abandoning the company’s original mission to develop AI “for the benefit of humanity” by transitioning to a for-profit business model.
In response, OpenAI countersued in April, alleging Musk engaged in fraudulent business practices under California law. The company claimed Musk’s actions were part of a deliberate effort to interfere with its business.
Musk’s Motion to Dismiss Denied
Musk requested that the court dismiss or delay OpenAI’s counterclaims until a later stage in the proceedings. However, in May, OpenAI argued that its countersuit should proceed without delay.
Judge Rogers sided with OpenAI, stating that the company’s allegations were legally sufficient to move forward. This decision means Musk will now have to face the harassment claims in court.
