Musk Gains Government Support in Legal Battle Against OpenAI

2025-01-13

根据最新报道,埃隆·马斯克在与OpenAI的法律纠纷中获得了政府机构的支持。虽然美国联邦贸易委员会(FTC)和司法部(DOJ)并未直接介入此案,但他们所强调的法律原则却为马斯克提供了有力支持,表明OpenAI及其合作伙伴微软可能涉及反竞争行为。

作为OpenAI的共同创始人之一,马斯克提起诉讼,旨在阻止该公司的上市计划,并指控OpenAI与微软合谋限制AI领域的公平竞争。目前,马斯克正在运营一家名为xAI的人工智能公司。

针对马斯克的指责,OpenAI的发言人向路透社重申了公司立场,认为马斯克的诉讼缺乏实质证据,实际上是一种骚扰手段。然而,马斯克的律师马克·托伯罗夫指出:“司法部和FTC的参与显示出监管机构对OpenAI和微软潜在不当行为的高度关注。”

据了解,FTC一直在审查AI领域内的合作关系,特别是OpenAI与微软之间的合作,同时也在调查微软是否存在反竞争行为,并检查OpenAI是否违反了消费者保护法。马斯克指控OpenAI滥用市场支配地位,迫使投资者不得投资于竞争对手,并与微软共享董事会成员。尽管OpenAI否认这些指控,称微软的里德·霍夫曼和迪安娜·坦普尔顿已不再与其有正式联系,但FTC和DOJ最近提交的法庭文件显示,这些董事仍可能掌握敏感的竞争信息,且仅拥有观察员身份并不能免除其法律责任。

此外,马斯克还声称OpenAI煽动了一场针对竞争对手的投资者联合抵制行动。FTC和DOJ认为,即使抵制活动的组织者不是直接参与者,这些指控依然成立。

Musk has gained governmental backing in his legal battle against OpenAI. Although the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have not directly commented on the case, they highlighted legal principles that support Musk's argument, suggesting potential anticompetitive behavior by OpenAI and its partner Microsoft. As one of the co-founders of OpenAI, Musk filed a lawsuit to halt the company’s plans for going public, accusing OpenAI and Microsoft of colluding to stifle competition in the AI sector. Currently, Musk leads an AI firm named xAI. In response to Musk's allegations, OpenAI’s spokesperson reiterated to Reuters that Musk’s lawsuit lacks substantial evidence and is essentially a form of harassment. However, Musk’s attorney, Mark Tobinoff, stated, "The involvement of the DOJ and FTC shows that regulators are taking the potential misconduct of OpenAI and Microsoft very seriously." It is understood that the FTC has been reviewing partnerships within the AI industry, particularly between OpenAI and Microsoft, while also investigating potential anticompetitive practices by Microsoft and whether OpenAI violated consumer protection laws. Musk accuses OpenAI of coercing investors into not investing in competing AI firms and sharing board members with Microsoft. Despite OpenAI denying these claims and noting that Reid Hoffman and Deanna Templeton from Microsoft no longer have formal ties with them, recent court filings by the FTC and DOJ indicate that these directors may still possess sensitive competitive information, and merely holding observer status does not exempt them from legal responsibility. Additionally, Musk alleges that OpenAI instigated a coordinated investor boycott against competitors. The FTC and DOJ argue that even if the organizers of such a boycott are not direct participants, the allegations hold merit.