Yes they did. They threatened suits and then backed down, especially when they were threatened. Bullies are scared of those who stand up to them.
Since the leftist pukes running the FSF own the copyright on most Linux distro code
GNU software is a relatively small portion of a distro. The kernel plus OpenOffice, Firefox, Konqueror, X Windows, and Thunderbird alone is probably far more code than all the GNU tools. The biggest GNU pieces of software are Gnome and GIMP, and the former isn't even in all distros (KDE is often preferred).
Microsoft has been ordered to pay a couple billion the last year or so for patent suits, wonder how well Stallman and his cronies can handle a hit like that?
I wonder how Microsoft can handle the retaliatory hit from Sun and IBM, plus the open patent initiative.
Hysterical, even N3WBI3 got it right above, go tell him he’s wrong. Sun and IBM have cross licensing agreements too. You obviously don’t have a clue but will say anything to stand up for that leftist whacko Stallman.