Elon Musk has lost his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI
On May 18, 2026, a federal judge dismissed Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI. Musk had filed the suit in 2024, claiming that OpenAI violated its original nonprofit charter by becoming a for-profit entity and partnering with Microsoft. The court ruled that OpenAI's shift to a capped-profit model did not breach any binding agreements, as the original mission statement was not a legally enforceable contract. The judge also rejected antitrust allegations, stating that the Microsoft partnership did not constitute illegal monopolization. This decision allows OpenAI to continue its current structure without legal hindrance from Musk's claims. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
Developers relying on OpenAI's API can expect continued access without disruption from this legal challenge.