Judge denies Apple, OpenAI's bid to dismiss Musk's lawsuit
What's the story
A US District Judge has denied a request by tech giants Apple and OpenAI to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk's X Corp and xAI. The suit alleges that the two companies have colluded to suppress competition in the emerging artificial intelligence (AI) market. The lawsuit was filed in August and seeks billions of dollars in damages from both Apple and OpenAI.
Ruling details
Judge rejects bid to dismiss lawsuit
US District Judge Mark Pittman rejected Apple and OpenAI's bid to dismiss the lawsuit on Thursday. He didn't give any reason for his decision in the written order but has asked both parties to file additional documents outlining their arguments on the matter. The case is X Corp. v. Apple, 25-cv-00914, US District Court, Northern District of Texas (Fort Worth).
Competition concerns
Lawsuit claims Apple's integration of OpenAI stifles competition
The lawsuit claims that Apple's decision to integrate OpenAI into the iPhone's operating system stifles competition and innovation in the AI sector. It also argues that this move harms consumers by taking away their choice. Both companies have denied these allegations in separate court filings, with OpenAI accusing Musk of "waging a campaign of lawfare" against them due to his long-standing feud with CEO Sam Altman.
Legal strategy
Apple's lawyers say allegations are false
Apple's lawyers have contended that the allegations in the lawsuit are false, as there is no exclusive contract with OpenAI. They also said that Apple plans to collaborate with other AI companies in the future. This defense comes as part of their strategy to counter Musk's claims and defend their position in this high-profile case.