Musk vs. Altman trial opens in Oakland with technical chaos — judge cracks jokes as Elon's lawyer's mic fails four times
Key Points
- Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman opened in Oakland federal court with technical chaos as his lawyer's microphone failed four times during opening arguments.
- Musk claims Altman and OpenAI breached fiduciary duties and abandoned the company's original non-profit mission.
- The trial will examine OpenAI's governance structure, cap table arrangements, and the circumstances of Altman's departure and return as CEO.
Summary
Musk vs. Altman Trial Opens with Mic Failures and Judicial Comedy
The opening of Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman got underway in Oakland federal court on April 28 with technical chaos that gave the presiding judge ample material for courtroom humor.
Musk's lawyer's microphone failed four times during opening arguments. After the fifth technical failure, the judge responded with her own bit: "What can I tell you? We are funded by the federal government."
The New York Times is live-blogging the trial through reporter Mike Isaac and his team, with posts rolling in as the proceedings continue. The full court record spans hours of content, with highlights still being pulled and analyzed.
The lawsuit centers on Musk's claims that Altman and OpenAI breached fiduciary duties and departed from the company's original non-profit mission. The trial is expected to surface technical arguments about OpenAI's governance, cap table arrangements, and the nature of Altman's departure and subsequent return as CEO. Neither the trial's duration nor the specific damages being sought were disclosed in the segment.
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