Microsoft's patent claim: Where's the beef?

Microsoft says free and open source software infringes on 235 of its patents. The real motive for Microsoft's patent volley may be the third version of the General Public License.

But following this patent back and forth (see Techmeme and Fortune article) is a lot like eating a condiment sandwich--it would be much better with some meat. How about some

Meanwhile, I've read the official Microsoft line but am left with a few outstanding things that make me go hmm.

• Did these execs speak out of turn--or was every last sentence planned?
• What's the motive--there has to be more than the GPL?
• Why bring up all this patent stuff now--especially since Microsoft has no motivation to sue--yet?

Without some real information on these patents that open source is trouncing it's a case of patent he said, she said. Like Adrian Kingsley-Hughes notes though, I'd be surprised if there weren't patent problems. This patent banter is leaving me hungry--much like a condiment sandwich.