Hehe...Microsoft view Linux as a competitor, which is why they'll never win. Linux isn't in it for the money. If Gates undermines GPL with a technicality, the Linux people will just use something else and move their sources across to it.
Microsoft could put an end to Linux, but only by totally rewriting their execrable software to resememble some form of competence, and selling it very cheaply. Otherwise, don't expect to see Linux users quaking in their boots.