Only 3 Outcomes

    The way I see it, there are only three possible outcomes to this whole debate.  Two out of the three with be good for all.  The third outcome will spell nothing but disaster for EVERYONE.  These outcomes depend on what the courts decide.  If the patents are indeed Microsoft's property, if they are valid and if Microsoft deserves royalties.  Don't underestimate this situation.  Someone will pay for these actions.  That someone is you!

Microsoft Sues and Wins  

    This is the worst possible outcome for everyone.  If they do sue the end users, and win, that will spell the end for Linux and Open Source for everyone!  Because the GNU/GPL (which covers most open source) states that distributors cannot charge for software, Microsoft will not be able to get its royalties, and hence Open Source Software will not be able to be distributed.  Microsoft will be the only business operating system in existence, creating the most powerful monopoly ever dreamed of.  What that means to the end users, is higher prices, less innovation, and less third party developers (because they would be afraid of being sued for infringement).  Sure, MAC OS will be around for the personal market, but there aren't many businesses (aside from graphics and multimedia companies) that use MAC OS.  That will give Microsoft the power and the ground to go after MAC for patent infringement.  If that happens, just imagine what would be next?

Microsoft Sues and Looses

       This is the worst possible outcome for Microsoft.  The only people they can sue (Per GNU/GPL), would be the end users.  The end users are also Microsoft's customers.  So basically, these Fortune 500 companies, which were sued by Microsoft, would have the decision to make, pay a lot for a product that's manufacturer sued them (for BS mind you), or go to a Free (or at least cheaper) product that can do more...  This will set the stage for the gradual, but distinctive move from Microsoft based products to GNU/GPL based products.  It may take ten or fifteen years for a complete transition away from Microsoft, but it will happen.  As of right now, Microsoft does not have a business operating system.  They HAD XP Pro and Windows 2000, but now with Vista, they have nothing!  With RedHat Enterprise Linux reaching new levels, the stage has been set for a transition.

Microsoft Decides Not To Sue

        Microsoft still looses in this case.   The amount of press they will have generated for Open Source software will peak interests across the globe.  Initially, switches will be slow (due to the fear of suit), but eventually more and more users will catch on the bandwagon.  The cold war between Microsoft and The Open Invention Network (OIN) will continue to grow.  It will become increasingly difficult for Microsoft to take this kind of action.  Eventually, the war will get to the point where Microsoft will not be able to compete.  Microsoft may have almost unlimited financial resources, but the Open Source Revolution has unlimited resources in every other category.  Microsoft has picked a battle that they have almost no hope of winning.

Conclusion