Musk's $13.4B Lawsuit Against OpenAI Set for April Trial

The legal dispute between Elon Musk and OpenAI, alongside its partner Microsoft, has reached a pivotal and intense phase. According to recent court filings, this high-stakes case—involving claims of up to $134 billion (approximately 92.57 billion yuan)—is now set for trial on April 28, 2026.
During a recent hearing, Judge Rogers of the Northern District of California voiced strong reservations about the calculation method presented by Musk’s legal team, describing the logic as "fabricated." Musk’s claim relies heavily on expert analysis, arguing that his initial $38 million donation should represent a significant share of OpenAI’s value, thereby justifying an enormous damages amount—and demanding that Microsoft bear joint liability.
Although the judge remains skeptical about the scientific basis of the damages figure, she denied OpenAI’s motion to exclude the expert testimony. The judge believes that the ultimate evaluation of this evidence should be left to the jury. This ruling is significant for Musk, as the case could be thrown out immediately if key testimonies are excluded due to lack of evidence of harm.
In the lawsuit, Musk has launched a broad offensive, accusing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of fraud and of abandoning the company’s original nonprofit mission. In response, OpenAI contends that Musk’s lawsuit amounts to "continuing harassment" driven by commercial motives, aimed at giving his own competitor, xAI, an edge. This closely watched "trial of the century" will lay bare the complex conflicts of interest behind the major AI model companies.
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The legal dispute between Elon Musk and OpenAI, alongside its partner Microsoft, has reached a pivotal and intense phase. According to recent court filings, this high-stakes case—involving claims of up to $134 billion (approximately 92.57 billion yuan)—is now set for trial on April 28, 2026.
During a recent hearing, Judge Rogers of the Northern District of California voiced strong reservations about the calculation method presented by Musk’s legal team, describing the logic as "fabricated." Musk’s claim relies heavily on expert analysis, arguing that his initial $38 million donation should represent a significant share of OpenAI’s value, thereby justifying an enormous damages amount—and demanding that Microsoft bear joint liability.
Although the judge remains skeptical about the scientific basis of the damages figure, she denied OpenAI’s motion to exclude the expert testimony. The judge believes that the ultimate evaluation of this evidence should be left to the jury. This ruling is significant for Musk, as the case could be thrown out immediately if key testimonies are excluded due to lack of evidence of harm.
In the lawsuit, Musk has launched a broad offensive, accusing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of fraud and of abandoning the company’s original nonprofit mission. In response, OpenAI contends that Musk’s lawsuit amounts to "continuing harassment" driven by commercial motives, aimed at giving his own competitor, xAI, an edge. This closely watched "trial of the century" will lay bare the complex conflicts of interest behind the major AI model companies.
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