Does Novell still think that its deal was all about interoperability (as it repeatedly insists)? Microsoft begs to differ. It has explicitly said that the deal was about patents. Recall how much of this mess got started. It is very clear that Microsoft embraces to destroy and at the same time wishes to put a price tag on Linux, where that price is Microsoft's gain, i.e. earnings from rival products. Here is a new take on Novell's newly-found 'love':

Microsoft Sprang October Surprise on Novell

Ahh, it seems that Novell didn't know until two weeks before its infamous deal with Microsoft was announced that there was a sine qua non patent component to the thing. The poor little innocent thought Microsoft was negotiating interoperability for the sake of interoperability until Microsoft had Novell salivating like Pavlov's dogs and then Microsoft explained the fact of life. We have this tale from someone who was there and says it's true.

At this stage, if Novell had some dignity, it would come out and confess that it is unhappy with the partnership. Microsoft's latest betrayal aside, Novell has already lost some prominent employees. Wall Street was not pleased with the deal, either. Not in 2006 and not even in 2007.