Act 1:
2 Nov, 2006:
Microsoft and Novell make a deal

"Microsoft Corp. and Novell Inc. today announced a set of broad business and technical collaboration agreements to build, market and support a series of new solutions to make Novell and Microsoft products work better together. The two companies also announced an agreement to provide each other’s customers with patent coverage for their respective products."

http://www.novell.com/news/press/item.jsp?id=1196&locale=en_US
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+makes+Linux+pact+with+Novell/2100-1016_3-6132119.html?tag=nl

Act 2:
Nov 16, 2006:
Ballmer implies Linux infringes on Microsoft intellectual property

Linux "uses our patented intellectual property"...

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/108806.asp

Act 3:
Nov 20, 2006:
Novell Disagrees

"We disagree with the recent statements made by Microsoft on the topic of Linux and patents. Importantly, our agreement with Microsoft is in no way an acknowledgment that Linux infringes upon any Microsoft intellectual property. When we entered the patent cooperation agreement with Microsoft, Novell did not agree or admit that Linux or any other Novell offering violates Microsoft patents."

http://www.novell.com/linux/microsoft/community_open_letter.html

Act 4:
Nov 12, 2006:
Samba Team Asks Novell to Reconsider

"For Novell to make this deal shows a profound disregard for the relationship that they have with the Free Software community. We are, in essence, their suppliers, and Novell should know that they have no right to make self serving deals on behalf of others which run contrary to the goals and ideals of the Free Software community."

http://news.samba.org/announcements/team_to_novell/

Nov 21, 2006:
Open Invention Network takes stance on Microsoft-Novell deal

"Through the accumulation of patents that may be used to shield the Linux environment, including users of Linux software, OIN has obviated the need for offers of protection from others."

http://openinventionblog.com/#000011

Nov 21, 2006:
Scott Handy, VP, IBM:

"Microsoft is coming to terms with the fact that Linux is an unstoppable force in the marketplace."

"We aren't sure what Microsoft's intentions here are, but IBM has long asserted that we don't see the need for this coverage. To our knowledge, there has never been a patent suit against Linux, and it is our view that legal claims, if they exist, should be settled without involving end-user customers."