This is about Microsoft and Novell assuring business clients that there will be no lawsuits if the business clients use linux, particularly SUSE linux.
Businesses are FAR more cautious than ordinary consumers when there is a possibility of lawsuits based on intellectual property claims. Linux stands little chance of gaining widespread acceptance in the business community until and unless underlying intellectual property disputes are resolved.
This partnership agreement is a welcome and necessary step in the maturing and mainstreaming of linux in the business world.
I appreciate your point - that may be the underlying reality. But there is a lot of print devoted to the two parties paying each other money and agreeing to hold each other blameless. I read an article somewhere (I think it was Lee Gomes in the WSJ) who said that this was more about MS strengthening the hand of the weak sister (Novell) to the possible detriment of the stronger brother (Red Hat). Of course Oracle is going after Red Hat in a different way.
I confess to having no idea of what the *real* agenda or agendas are. Could be it's all of the above including your points, and then even more besides!