Over the years, Linux has accumulated many shields. First consider OIN. Then, remember that there are titans out there who will fight for Linux because it saved them billions of dollars. IBM, for example, can fight independently, even without OIN.

Here comes another large cogwheel into play. It is, of course, the recently-founded Linux Foundation, which is gaining new members very quickly as more and more companies see and embrace the promise of Linux. The Linux Foundation is now preparing to rebut Microsoft, shall that be necessary.

"If you use Windows, Solaris, [IBM's] AIX or any similar operating system, you have the same patent infringement risk as using Linux. Microsoft should be careful of what it starts because it doesn't know where it will end," said Zemlin [of the Linux Foundation] in an interview.

There may be an ugly story, however, behind OSDL's transition into the Linux Foundation (merger). There is reason to suspect that the Linux Foundation might be a Novell apologist and a GPLv3 slammer, even after Stuart Cohen's (somewhat forced) departure.

The Linux Foundation isn't the first to take a strong stand against Microsoft's recent actions and make Microsoft worry. In fact, OpenOffice.org has already come out swinging. It slammed Microsoft, claiming that its actions are miserable acts that reflect on its own miseries and fears.