Has there been any instance of this patent protection actually coming into effect? I would have thought this would just have led to multiple trolls targetting Microseft customers to access Microsoft's deep pockets.
Since I've not heard of this happening I'm inclined to believe this is a hollow offer.
It's the carrot at the end of the FUD. "If you buy our stuff, you'll be safe from someone suing."
"What's that, still going to use Unix? Well you'd better at least buy from Novell, as they've signed an agreement protecting you from being sued."
It's not "shades of SCO", it's the other side of the same coin.