A federal judge has blocked OpenAI from seeing the confidential agreement that ended part of an antitrust dispute involving Apple and Elon Musk’s companies.
X Corp and SpaceXAI recently resolved their claims against Apple. However, their legal action against OpenAI remains active. OpenAI then sought access to the agreement, arguing that its contents could affect its defense.
Judge Keeps Settlement Confidential
U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman reviewed the agreement privately before ruling on OpenAI’s request. After examining the material, he found no information relevant to issues remaining for summary judgment or trial. Therefore, he denied OpenAI access to the terms.
Pittman also stressed the importance of confidentiality in legal settlements. Courts generally protect private settlement agreements because confidentiality can encourage parties to resolve disputes without continuing lengthy litigation.
As a result, the details behind the Apple agreement will remain private unless another legal development changes that position.
Antitrust Case Against OpenAI Continues
The broader dispute began after Musk’s companies accused Apple and OpenAI of anticompetitive conduct in the artificial intelligence market.
The lawsuit alleged that Apple’s integration of ChatGPT gave OpenAI an unfair advantage over competing AI services such as Grok. It also challenged how rival applications gained visibility through Apple’s App Store. Apple and OpenAI have denied wrongdoing.
However, X Corp and SpaceXAI moved to dismiss their claims against Apple with prejudice on September 14. That legal step prevents them from bringing those same claims against Apple again. Their filing made clear that the claims against OpenAI would continue.
OpenAI Prepares Its Next Legal Move
OpenAI plans to seek summary judgment in the remaining case. In practical terms, it will ask the court to resolve some or all claims without a full trial. The court has also granted additional preparation time for that request.
For now, the ruling separates Apple from the continuing legal fight while preserving the confidentiality of its agreement with Musk’s companies. Meanwhile, OpenAI must build its defense without access to the settlement terms.
