Microsoft’s war on GPL dealt patent setback

Microsoft has two goals from its patent licensing program. One is to
create a new, stable revenue stream to compliment its aging cash cows,
Windows and Office. Patent royalties could provide an attractive
income if the company succumbs to market economics, and is forced to
lower its prices to compete with cheaper free software. The other goal
– although it may simply be fortuitous collateral damage from
Redmond’s point of view – is to make writing free software illegal. Or
if not illegal, then so fraught with legal uncertainties that
developers gravitate away from the GPL.