Worst case scenario is that big companies still keep innovating.

Matthew Smith, “The New York Times Wants ChatGPT Gone. Nice Try Copyright murkiness is about the only sure thing that lies ahead,” IEEE Spectrum, 01-06-2024, https://spectrum.ieee.org/chatgpt-new-york-times

Whenever it’s resolved, the impact of The New York Times’s suit will be significant. Its failure would allow those looking to train new AI models to proceed as they have in the past with far less concern about future lawsuits. Success wouldn’t entirely halt the training of new AI models, but licensing costs may increase the cost of training beyond the means of all but the most well-funded companies.