Inside the Musk v Altman Trial: How a $100 Billion Revelation Was Overshadowed by Courtroom Comfort
WIRED reports that while Microsoft’s massive investment in OpenAI was disclosed during final testimonies, the trial’s conclusion has drawn attention to the unorthodox use of seating aids by key figures including Sam Altman and Greg Brockman.
The witness testimony phase of the Musk v Altman trial has concluded, with both the plaintiffs and defence having rested their cases. Presided over by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, the proceedings have spanned nearly three weeks, drawing approximately 150 attendees to a courtroom that is now filled to near capacity. This stands in stark contrast to the restricted attendance seen during the 2021 Epic Games v Apple trial, which was limited by pandemic concerns.
During the final witness testimonies on Wednesday, a significant financial detail emerged: Microsoft has spent over $100 billion on its partnership with OpenAI. However, the most prominent observation from the courtroom has been the widespread use of comfort aids. While core litigators occupy leather chairs, members of the OpenAI and Microsoft legal teams, along with executives, have utilised various cushions to mitigate the discomfort of the hard wooden benches.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and general counsel Che Chang were observed using thick black cushions, identified as products from the brand Purple, which retails for $120. Chang was notably seen placing a cushion behind his back, a practice legal experts note is uncommon but understandable given the trial's duration. OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, utilised pristine white pillows, which appear to be from the sleeping goods brand Coop, sold at $35 for a two-pack.
The logistics of these comfort aids were managed discreetly. An OpenAI bodyguard was seen carrying a purple handbag containing pillows for the Brockmans. When Brockman temporarily lacked a cushion, his wife provided one before settling her own. OpenAI chief futurist Joshua Achiam, who later occupied Brockman’s seat, initially sat without aid before eventually obtaining a standard black cushion. OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding these preparations.
Legal observers noted that while using pillows is not customary in courtrooms, the physical strain of a three-week trial makes the practice understandable. Judge Gonzalez Rogers is scheduled to hear arguments regarding potential penalties next week, a period that may see continued reliance on such aids as the legal teams prepare for the final stages of the dispute.
