OpenAI, Inc.
All Connections
3 total
All Connections
3 totalMicrosoft CTO Kevin Scott's March 2018 email demonstrates Microsoft's advance knowledge that OpenAI was pivoting to a 'closed, for profit thing' on the back of charitable donations. This knowledge preceded Microsoft's July 2019 $1B investment, undermining Microsoft's defense that it lacked knowledge of the breach.
Musk donated approximately $44.8M to OpenAI (2016-2020) through Donor Advised Funds (Vanguard, Fidelity) and YC.org fiscal sponsorship. The court found Musk has standing as settlor of charitable trust despite using DAFs. These donations form the basis of all equitable remedies claimed.
Deannah Templeton alleged to have served as director or officer of OpenAI, Inc. while simultaneously serving as VP Partnerships & Operations at Microsoft Startup Program — making her an alleged 'agent and alter ego' of Microsoft at OpenAI. This dual role is the mechanism by which the SAC alleges Microsoft had inside access and knowledge of OpenAI's activities.
All Findings
10 total
All Findings
10 totalcorporate (3)
DENIAL complaint reveals seven-entity OpenAI structure: Inc., LP, OpCo LLC, GP LLC, Startup Fund I LP, Startup Fund GP I LLC, Startup Fund Management LLC
The DENIAL class action complaint explicitly names all seven OpenAI entities as defendants: OpenAI Inc., OpenAI LP, OpenAI OpCo LLC, OpenAI GP LLC, OpenAI Startup Fund I LP, OpenAI Startup Fund GP I LLC, and OpenAI Startup Fund Management LLC — plus Microsoft Corporation. This provides the most comprehensive entity roster from any single case filing.
OpenAI hired at least two former xAI engineers (Fraiture, Li) in September 2025 amid trade secret allegations; xAI claims 8+ employees poached
Jimmy Fraiture joined OpenAI September 2, 2025 (based in London). Xuechen Li also joined OpenAI and was subject to a TRO September 2, 2025 in 25-cv-7292. xAI's main trade secrets complaint (3:25-cv-08133) alleges OpenAI targeted and hired at least eight xAI employees as part of a deliberate scheme to access xAI's confidential information.
OpenAI corporate entity structure confirmed: Inc. (Delaware nonprofit Dec 8 2015), Global LLC, OpCo LLC at 1455 3rd St. San Francisco CA 94158
The xAI subpoena application (doc 1) states: 'OpenAI, Inc. is a registered nonprofit corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware on December 8, 2015. OpenAI, Inc. is registered as an out-of-state nonprofit corporation with the California Secretary of State and has its principal place of business at 1455 3rd St., San Francisco, CA 94158.' The three named respondents were OpenAI Inc., OpenAI Global LLC, and OpenAI OpCo LLC.
legal (7)
SDNY MDL 1:25-md-03143 consolidates OpenAI copyright class actions from NDCA and other districts
The MDL 'In Re: OpenAI, Inc. Copyright Infringement Litigation' (1:25-md-03143, SDNY, filed April 11, 2025) consolidates multiple copyright class actions against OpenAI including Silverman, Chabon, Tremblay, Millette, DENIAL, Wilson, and others. The DENIAL case was transferred from NDCA on July 24, 2025. The MDL is the principal venue for author/creator copyright claims against OpenAI.
DENIAL v. OpenAI class action copyright lawsuit filed by Saveri/Boies (3:25-cv-05495 NDCA, transferred to SDNY MDL 1:25-md-03143)
Catherine Denial, Ian McDowell, and Steven Schwartz filed a class action against OpenAI (Inc., LP, OpCo, GP, Startup Fund I LP, Startup Fund GP I, Startup Fund Management) and Microsoft Corporation on June 30, 2025, alleging systematic use of pirated 'shadow libraries' (Books3, LibGen, etc.) for model training. Lead counsel: Joseph Saveri, Bryan Clobes (Cafferty Clobes), and David Boies (Boies Schiller Flexner). Case was transferred to SDNY July 24, 2025 (1:25-cv-06286) and consolidated into the OpenAI MDL (1:25-md-03143).
X.AI Corp. filed trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI (3:25-cv-08133 NDCA) alleging strategic campaign to poach at least 8 xAI employees to steal source code
On September 24, 2025, xAI filed X.AI Corp. v. OpenAI, Inc. (3:25-cv-08133 RFL NDCA) alleging OpenAI engaged in a 'strategic campaign to undermine xAI and gain unlawful advantage in the race to build the best artificial intelligence models' by 'specifically targeting xAI employees and using them to steal xAI Confidential Information and trade secrets.' xAI alleges OpenAI poached at least eight xAI employees. Initial case management conference was scheduled for January 14, 2026.
Yonce v. OpenAI (1:25-cv-01244 D.Del) pro se patent infringement case against all major AI companies; appealed to 3d Cir. March 2026
Haden Christian Yonce filed pro se patent infringement (35:271) claims against Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI in D. Delaware on October 9, 2025. Yonce filed emergency TRO and emergency motion to terminate discovery. The case was appealed to the Third Circuit as of March 19, 2026 (disclosure statement filed, emergency motions for stay of state court proceedings). Characteristic of a vexatious filer.
xAI's 28 USC 1782 subpoena application against OpenAI DENIED by Judge Spero (NDCA 3:25-mc-80299)
xAI LLC sought discovery from OpenAI Inc., OpenAI Global LLC, and OpenAI OpCo LLC under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 to support UK trade-secret litigation against former xAI employee Jimmy Fraiture. The application was filed September 26, 2025 and DENIED November 11, 2025. Court found all four Intel factors favored denial: application was premature (UK case only 16 days old), subpoena was an overbroad fishing expedition, likely circumvented UK discovery rules, and would impose undue burden duplicating discovery in the parallel 8133 trade secrets case.
DOE v. OPENAI LP (1:25-cv-04564 DDC) RICO complaint — pro se guardian case naming Sam Altman individually alongside all major AI companies
Filed December 30, 2025 by JOHN DOE through guardian JANE DOE. 165-page complaint names OpenAI LP, OpenAI Global LLC, Sam Altman (individually), Google, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, NVIDIA, Anthropic, XAI Corp., Amazon Web Services, Perplexity AI. Claims include RICO (18 USC 1962), copyright infringement, DTSA, and 'vulnerable adult exploitation' under Maryland law. Plaintiff claims to have invented all modern AI in 2018 via five documents. IFP granted January 29, 2026 by Chief Judge Boasberg. Assessment: facially meritless pro se filing.
Erickson v. OpenAI (3:26-cv-01303 NDCA) copyright case transferred from Nevada; motion to dismiss hearing set June 4, 2026
Michael Erickson's copyright case originated in Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court (A-25-935656-C), was removed to D. Nevada (2:26-cv-00083) January 15, 2026, and transferred to NDCA February 12, 2026. OpenAI filed a motion to dismiss on March 6, 2026 (hearing June 4, 2026) and earlier filed a motion to seal alongside a motion to stay. The motion to seal's subject matter is not disclosed in RECAP.