[KoRn]

"It seems to me M$ would have to reveal its source code if it wants to prove that Linux has stolen it."

Now that's a good point. The lawsuit would end right there.

[rabscuttle385]

Microsoft isn't exactly clean, either. They may have incorporated GPL (or other open source) code into their own code base; if this was found to be true during the discovery phase, I believe the GPL could be used to force Microsoft to open up its entire code base to the public, for free.

That would end Microsoft's business model. MSFT is playing with fire here.