Musk could even use a settlement as an opportunity to push for certain policy changes — from highly politicized ones such as those around how Twitter moderates users’ speech, to the sort of hobbyhorses that super-users like him care about, including the addition of an “Edit Tweet” button.

Even if such concessions came alongside a cash settlement he had to pay out, they might offer the public figure a chance to save some face.

But it’s an unlikely outcome, Bruno said.

“I do not see a change in site policies unless a lot of money comes Twitter’s way,” the attorney wrote. However, he added, Twitter may still choose to make changes “to publicly show their users that they are active in eliminating bots,” the focus of much of Musk’s criticism.

Elson agreed. “I don’t think he would be able to get a change in business practices from them. … Ultimately this is a business transaction; it’s [about], ‘How much is this thing worth?’ That’s all.”