US Court Denies Elon Musk’s Request for OpenAI Source Code in Antitrust Case

• January 24, 2026

A U.S. federal magistrate judge has ruled against Elon Musk’s companies X and xAI in their legal effort to obtain OpenAI’s source code related to the integration of the AI system Grok into Apple’s iOS platform. The decision marks a significant development in the ongoing antitrust dispute involving Apple.

Judge Hal R. Ray Jr. Denies Source Code Disclosure

The ruling was issued by Magistrate Judge Hal R. Ray Jr. who determined that the request for OpenAI’s proprietary source code did not align with the scope of the antitrust lawsuit focused on Apple. The judge emphasized that the requested materials were unrelated to the core legal issues and failed to meet the proportionality standards required for discovery in this case.

The lawsuit brought by Musk’s companies alleges concerns over Apple’s policies and practices concerning app integrations, specifically addressing the AI assistant Grok being integrated into the iOS ecosystem. Musk’s teams sought access to OpenAI’s internal codebase in an effort to gain leverage or evidence to support their claims. However, the court found these demands to extend beyond what is necessary for the litigation.

This decision restricts the scope of evidence available for discovery and underscores the complexity around intellectual property and proprietary software when involved in legal disputes within the technology sector.

The litigation reflects rising tensions among major tech players regarding AI developments and mobile platform control, highlighting the challenges of balancing competition and proprietary innovation.

The case is part of broader scrutiny of Apple’s App Store policies and how AI technologies are integrated into mobile operating systems. Similar disputes have involved questions about platform gatekeeping and fair competition in digital ecosystems.

Looking ahead, the dispute will continue to evolve, with future court rulings expected to further define the boundaries for discovery and the legal responsibilities of AI developers and platform operators. Observers will watch for the next procedural steps and how they may impact AI deployment and competition in mobile environments.

A US federal magistrate judge rejected demands from Elon Musk’s companies for OpenAI’s source code in an antitrust lawsuit over Grok’s iOS integration.