> I really hope there will be a trial and these patents will be invalidated, because they are one of the most absurd I have ever seen.
Very unlikely.
In the (very unlikely) case that BN resist too much (which would be very costly for them) and are on the verge of invalidating MS's patents, MS would probably just offer very good conditions for an out of court settlement.
The settlement would be of course under NDA, so MS would keep their patents and the FUD which comes with these..