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Elon Musk loses OpenAI lawsuit, files appeal

techMay 19, 2026311,058

A federal jury in California dismissed Elon Musk's lawsuit accusing OpenAI of breaching its nonprofit mission, and Musk has filed an appeal. Musk argued that OpenAI shifted control and obligations toward its for-profit arm under CEO Sam Altman, but the jury rejected that legal claim. The decision upholds OpenAI's current governance structure and sets a legal precedent that makes it harder to force structural changes at AI companies through similar lawsuits.

emptywheel
@emptywheel.bsky.social

After jury decides Elon waited too long to sue Sam Altman, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers says she was ready to dismiss on the spot. Which, by not doing, resulted in a whole lot of damning information getting into the public record. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

OAKLAND, California, May 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. jury on Monday ​ruled against Elon Musk in his lawsuit against OpenAI, finding the artificial intelligence company not liable to the world's richest person for ‌having allegedly strayed from its original mission to benefit humanity. In a unanimous verdict, the jury in Oakland, California, federal court said Musk had brought his case too late. The jury deliberated less than two hours. Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here. The trial had widely been seen as a critical moment for the future of OpenAI and artificial intelligence generally, both in how it should be used and ​who should benefit from it. Following the verdict, Musk's lawyer said he reserved the right to appeal, but the judge suggested he may have ​an uphill battle because whether the statute of limitations ran out before Musk sued was a factual issue. "There's a substantial ⁠amount of evidence to support the jury's finding, which is why I was prepared to dismiss on the spot," U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ​said.
41222d ago
The Best Captain14

Yay I guess? Altman is just as much a dickbag as Musk. Wasting the courts time with billionaire tiny dick energy is always a loss.

cdwilsher.bsky.social12

What's weird is that SOL is usually dealt with at the summary judgment stage. When a cause of action accrues is a legal question and when suit is filed isn't arguable.

Goldgrave4

So Musk's bribery check didn't clear.

OG SKATER4

Good, the South African immigrant exploiter Ruining America should be deported.

Aibo - Zonny2

🇺🇸 What is corruption ❓

Melanie2

And also made it a lot harder for Musk to appeal.

childishdogman.bsky.social2

They're both unaccountable psychopaths. Ideally, their heads should be pounded together repeatedly until there's nothing but a bloody pulp remaining.

OSINTRadar
@osintradar.bsky.social

Elon Musk 'loses' $150 billion AI lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman - New York Post Follow us for the latest updates : @osintradar.bsky.social

19022d ago
Davy10

Now - fine Musk $500 billion for his frivolous lawsuit.

Ajit G.2

Elon Musk's loss on Monday in his lawsuit against OpenAI and its co-founder Sam Altman is the latest in a string of legal defeats or settlements. 😭

Chris Maley2

Elon's Ketamine dealer is going to be cashing in tonight. #OpenAI chrismaley.com/2024/12/27/e...

Pivot Podcast
@pivotpod.bsky.social

“A waste of our legal system’s time.” @karaswisher.bsky.social and @profgalloway.com react to Elon Musk losing his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI after a unanimous jury verdict. Check out the full conversation on tomorrow’s episode of Pivot!

9822d ago
Amee Vanderpool
@girlsreallyrule.bsky.social

After deliberating for less than two hours, a US jury on Monday unanimously found against Elon Musk in his lawsuit against OpenAI, finding the AI company not liable to the world's richest person for having allegedly straying from its original mission to benefit humanity. bbc.com/news/article...

5821d ago
Lauren Ashley Davis
@laurenmeidasa.bsky.social

“On election night, Elon left Mar-a-Lago early – I was at Mar-a-Lago – and he told me over text ‘I knew hours ago that Trump won, my team has the best real-time data,’” St. Clair said. “First of all, how the f--- do you have real-time data on elections? www.rawstory.com/elon-musk-26...

3121d ago
Yeah, Well, That's What I Think.2

Been saying since Election Day 2024 that the swing state (at minimum) numbers got laundered through Starlink. There is no rational explanation for all eight states coming down for Trump, all before midnight, all with just enough margin not to trigger a recount.

This Will Hold
@thiswillhold.bsky.social

Elon Musk's Ex, Ashley St. Clair, Confirms He Rigged the 2024 Election Using Technology “10,000 satellites and lasers in space.” open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...

2421d ago
Being Liberal ®🗽🏳️‍🌈
@beingliberal.bsky.social

Elon Musk accused OpenAI of “stealing a charity,” demanded a fortune in a $150 billion lawsuit, and then watched a jury toss his case after less than two hours of deliberation. That is not a courtroom drama. It’s a billionaire's tantrum getting smacked with a calendar.

4521d ago
Al Jazeera English
@aljazeera.com

Elon Musk’s planned appeal suggests the legal battle is far from over.

4021d ago
Paul Barrett ❌👑
@paulthedogman.bsky.social

Excellent dispatch from OligarchWatch on Elon Musk's descent into racist absurdity. His obsession with Christopher Nolan's casting of a Black actor as (the mythical!) Helen in The Odyssey reflects the rank racism across MAGA world. We must resist them. oligarchwatch.substack.com/p/elon-musks...

1821d ago
Anne Grete (GoogeliArt) 🦋💙PD
@googeliart.bsky.social

🚨BREAKING: Elon Musk's baby mama reveals that he used "space technology" in the 2024 election and implies that he STOLE it for Donald Trump. This deserves a full federal investigation by Democrats... "In October, Elon tells me ........ x.com/OccupyDemocr...

1121d ago
NewsThump
@newsthump.com

NEWS! Jury reaches unanimous verdict that Elon Musk and Sam Altman are both massive c**ts newsthump.com/2026/05/19/j...

1921d ago
Christian Thiels
@christianthiels.bsky.social

ICYMI: "A federal jury unanimously ruled Monday that Elon Musk waited too long to bring his lawsuit against OpenAI and its top executives — a staggering defeat for the Tesla chief in his showdown with Sam Altman." @axios.com ($) www.axios.com/2026/05/18/m...

1421d ago
FinTwitter
@fintwitter.bsky.social

MUSK ON OPENAI VERDICT: I WILL BE FILING AN APPEAL WITH THE NINTH CIRCUIT

1622d ago
Forever Woke7

Wealthy people, especially white men hate being held accountable for their actions

Mr. Newberger
@jeremynewberger.bsky.social

Mr. Newberger is proud to announce the release of Christopher Nolan’s gender-fluid Elon Musk biopic, ELON. Musk’s extraordinary story simply needed to be told. Now streaming on Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/elon-m... Now streaming on Patreon: youtu.be/-5r_GIY-m4Y

621d ago
#TuckFrump
@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social

Federal court rejects Elon Musk’s claims against OpenAI, says lawsuit was filed too late #AssociatedPress

1121d ago
3 sources
dailykos.comOvernight News Digest: Elon Musk suffers worse defeat possiblewegeek.frElon Musk débouté de son procès contre OpenAI ! - WeGeektheguardian.comWhat did we learn from Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s courtroom drama?

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Elon Musk loses OpenAI lawsuit, files appealtech