A good observation is made by Matt Aslett, who has just published an article about SpikeSource and its collaboration with Microsoft.

While claiming that open source software violates 235 of its patents, Microsoft is still working to ensure that open source software runs on its Windows operating system, as evidenced by its recent deal with SpikeSource.

Essentially, the message to take is that Microsoft threatens not only its customers, but also its business partners, whom it pretends/purports to support. It truly seems like Microsoft has another dilemma in its hand. Whether it just intimidates or even takes legal action, a lot damage has been done. We have seen an example of this, namely a CEO's boycott. In essence, the company alienates both customers and business partners. It ought to have listened to the advice from Jonathan Schwartz.

Finally, a contradiction can be claimed here. If Microsoft's so-called 'intellectual property' is not honoured by open source projects, why does the company collaborate with them? Smells like hypocrisy, does it not?