Jury rejects Musk suit against OpenAI

A federal jury in Oakland, California on May 18, 2026 returned a unanimous verdict finding that Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI was time-barred and ruled against him. The panel deliberated for under two hours before delivering its decision, which concluded the trial phase of the high-profile dispute between Musk and the artificial intelligence company he helped found.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers immediately accepted the jury’s recommendation and entered judgment on the verdict. Her swift adoption of the jury’s finding brought the case to a formal close at the district court level, subject to any appeal Musk may pursue.

Following the verdict, Elon Musk said he intends to appeal the decision. He also posted critical comments about the ruling on X, the social media platform he owns, signaling that he will continue to contest the outcome through the appellate courts.

The planned appeal means the legal dispute is not fully concluded, but the jury’s determination that the claims were time-barred represents a significant setback for Musk’s case at this stage of the proceedings.

News reports and market analysts said the verdict removed a major legal overhang to a possible OpenAI initial public offering. Reuters reported that the ruling "simplifies the path" to a potential IPO that some have said could value the company at about $1 trillion.

The jury’s rapid decision and the judge’s quick entry of judgment are expected to shape near-term market and corporate developments tied to OpenAI’s public-market plans. With the time-bar ruling in place, observers suggested that one of the key uncertainties around the company’s legal exposure has been reduced.

Microsoft (MSFT), a key OpenAI partner, welcomed the outcome of the case. The company said the "facts and the timeline in this case have long been clear" and reaffirmed that it remains committed to its work with OpenAI.

The statement underscored Microsoft (MSFT)’s support for OpenAI following the verdict and highlighted the importance of their ongoing collaboration as OpenAI considers next steps, including a potential move toward the public markets.