A California judge, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, has expressed strong skepticism towards Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI’s Sam Altman, calling his claims of “irreparable harm” a stretch. The judge considered Musk’s bid to block OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit entity and questioned the billionaire’s ability to demonstrate harm absent an injunction.
The federal judge said she is not opposed to a trial being held on some of the claims brought by Musk, but stated that the kind of relief Musk seeks is “extraordinary” and rarely granted. The judge also called into question Musk’s own artificial intelligence venture, xAI, citing its massive $11 billion funding.
Gonzalez Rogers did not immediately rule on Musk’s request for a preliminary injunction, but expressed skepticism over his ability to claim harm without demonstrating evidence. The lawsuit alleges OpenAI and Microsoft violated antitrust laws by asking investors not to back competing AI firms like Musk’s own xAI.
The judge emphasized that the county values competition and is not making the playing field uneven. “It’s not my job to somehow stop competition,” she said.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-sam-altman-openai-nonprofit-attorneys-skeptical-california-court-2025-2