Federal Judge Denies OpenAI Motion to Dismiss Musk Lawsuit, Sets March 2026 Trial

Summary

On January 7, 2026, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied OpenAI's motion to dismiss the fraud lawsuit brought by co-founder Elon Musk, setting a jury trial for March 2026. The judge ruled based on evidence suggesting OpenAI's leaders made assurances that its original nonprofit structure would be maintained — assurances Musk alleges were violated when the company pivoted to a for-profit model. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, alleges fraud and breach of contract, claiming OpenAI