Microsoft claims that free software like Linux, which runs a big chunk of corporate America, violates 235 of its patents. It wants royalties from distributors and users. Users like you, maybe.(CNN Money)

This is typical MS behaviour. They believe by bloating this out to the world, stakeholders will get scared and retract. And some will, I think. But we don't count those, do we ?
Let me tell you where this is going. First of all, keep Novell in mind. Now think about where MS has most of it's software from. Add it up and there's your answer. MS will offer contracts to parties involved, thus getting a big say in the Open Source world and community. The leftover parties that are big enough to sue will be dragged into court and whatever is left after that will close it's doors by themselves. It's a done deal.