On the surface, it may seem that the Microsoft-Novell agreement was a watershed moment for Linux. After all, many businesses do not want to be slapped with lawsuits by using software that may infringe software patents of any kind (whether software patents even deserve to be granted remains a separate issue). The deal could calm the nerves of CIOs who are thinking of deploying Linux.
But if you look under the hood, things are not as altruistic as it seems. There has been a whirlwind of sorts going on in the free and open source community, which continues to be wary of what lies behind the public relations veil, especially those that involve patents.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/btw/0,39056810,61968964,00.htm