• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

2

Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026

3

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?

1

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

2

Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026

3

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
Techpalmer luckey

Mark Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey Testify in Oculus Rift-ZeniMax Trial

By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 21, 2017, 5:08 PM ET
Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Oculus VR. Inc. and creator of the Oculus Rift, demonstrates the new Oculus Rift headset to the media during the Oculus VR Inc. "Step Into The Rift" event in San Francisco,   California, U.S., on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Facebook Inc.'s Oculus virtual-reality headsets will work with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 10 and use the software maker's wireless Xbox game controller. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg  *** Local Caption *** Palmer Luckey
Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Oculus VR. Inc. and creator of the Oculus Rift, demonstrates the new Oculus Rift headset to the media during the Oculus VR Inc. "Step Into The Rift" event in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Facebook Inc.'s Oculus virtual-reality headsets will work with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 10 and use the software maker's wireless Xbox game controller. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Palmer LuckeyDavid Paul Morris © 2015 Bloomberg Finance LP
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

This week saw major developments in a court trial between ZeniMax Media Inc. and Facebook. ZeniMax claims that it contributed substantial resources to the development of the Oculus Rift VR headset, which was purchased by Facebook for more than $2 billion in 2014. Zenimax is seeking damages of $2 billion for violations of intellectual property, and could also seek an injunction halting the sale of the Rift hardware.

At the center of ZeniMax’s claims is legendary games developer John Carmack, who began working with Luckey while Carmack was still employed by ZeniMax through its Id Software unit. ZeniMax claims that Carmack used ZeniMax resources to improve to Oculus Rift prototype, then stole data from ZeniMax computers before taking a position as Chief Technology Officer at Oculus in 2013.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

In its suit, initially filed in May of 2014, ZeniMax essentially argues that Luckey isn’t truly the inventor of the Oculus Rift, saying Luckey “lacked the training, expertise, resources or know-how” to develop a viable VR system. According to ZeniMax’s suit, the widely-told story of Luckey creating the Rift over many years of focused tinkering is “false and fanciful.”

On Tuesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on that and other questions in a Dallas courtroom. According to the Dallas Morning News, Zuckerberg said that while ZeniMax sent a letter to Facebook shortly after the Oculus aquisition outlining its claims against Carmack and Luckey, the claims were not considered credible. Zuckerberg said he was “highly confident that Oculus products are built on Oculus technology.”

On Wednesday, Oculus Rift inventor Palmer Luckey took the stand, his first time back in the public eye after it was revealed he had bankrolled a group producing pro-Donald Trump material online. ZeniMax’s questioning, as reported by Polygon, focused on the fact that Luckey has little formal engineering education training, and on a nondisclosure agreement signed by Luckey when using ZeniMax assets at an Oculus demonstration.

For more on VR, watch our video.

The trial is expected to last for about two more weeks. If ZeniMax is able to convince the court of its claims, the consequences for the emerging virtual reality industry could be broad. In addition to any cash settlement, ZeniMax would have the option to seek an injunction halting Oculus Rift sales.

 

About the Author
By David Z. Morris
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Agentic AI systems are doing more and more work. Now humans need to figure out how to verify it all
AIBrainstorm Tech
Agentic AI systems are doing more and more work. Now humans need to figure out how to verify it all
By Alexei OreskovicJune 15, 2026
5 hours ago
Gina Rinehart
InvestingSpaceX
Australia’s richest person just bought a SpaceX stake worth more than $1 billion. ‘Elon has done what very few people in history have done’
By Jacqueline MunisJune 15, 2026
8 hours ago
Top analyst: 71% of SpaceX’s $2 trillion value rests on AI. Grok’s numbers are ‘almost comical’ by comparison
Startups & VentureSpaceX
Top analyst: 71% of SpaceX’s $2 trillion value rests on AI. Grok’s numbers are ‘almost comical’ by comparison
By Mia OsmonbekovJune 15, 2026
9 hours ago
New Mexico is in a historic drought. Oracle and OpenAI designed their newest data center with that in mind
Environmentclimate change
New Mexico is in a historic drought. Oracle and OpenAI designed their newest data center with that in mind
By Catherina GioinoJune 15, 2026
10 hours ago
Katie Moussouris, the founder and CEO of Luta Security.
AIAnthropic
‘Fix this code’—the three little words behind the U.S. government decision that shut down Anthropic’s Fable and Mythos AI models
By Jeremy KahnJune 15, 2026
10 hours ago
Shotwell stands and smiles widely
InvestingSpace X
Here’s how SpaceX’s debut stacks up against other major IPOs
By Jacqueline MunisJune 15, 2026
11 hours ago

Most Popular

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
Success
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
By Preston ForeJune 13, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 15, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 15, 2026
16 hours ago
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
Economy
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
By Nick LichtenbergJune 14, 2026
2 days ago
Meet Gwynne Shotwell, the engineer-turned-COO who runs SpaceX in platform heels and is now worth over $2 billion
Startups & Venture
Meet Gwynne Shotwell, the engineer-turned-COO who runs SpaceX in platform heels and is now worth over $2 billion
By Eva RoytburgJune 15, 2026
23 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 15, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 15, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 15, 2026
16 hours ago
Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
Personal Finance
Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
By John W. Diamond and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.