I don't see the conspiracy either. They could have sold those patents privately, not with a bid.
What I think happened is that Microsoft wanted some quick money out of patents they aren't using anyway (we are in an economic crisis after all), and so they organized a bid failing to invite OIN ... and maybe they did that such that OIN doesn't get them (the patents being acquired by a patent troll being the ideal scenario).
But that's not an "evil conspiracy". And I'm getting pretty tired of Groklaw and FSF crying wolf every time MS farts.
As they say, your real enemies are the ones you hate. You want to change the status quo? Competition and collaboration are the best tools you have. Not FUD.
The word "evil" gets bandied around far too easily, but if I'm reading you right then you acknowledge that Microsoft may have planned to feed ammunition to patent trolls, you just dispute whether that is "evil" or just "good business".
I'd say it's a pretty shitty thing to do and, while you can't prove what the motive was, Microsoft has a history of doing equally shitty things to damage its competitors (and collaborators!).
What I think happened is that Microsoft wanted some quick money out of patents they aren't using anyway (we are in an economic crisis after all), and so they organized a bid failing to invite OIN ... and maybe they did that such that OIN doesn't get them (the patents being acquired by a patent troll being the ideal scenario).
But that's not an "evil conspiracy". And I'm getting pretty tired of Groklaw and FSF crying wolf every time MS farts.
As they say, your real enemies are the ones you hate. You want to change the status quo? Competition and collaboration are the best tools you have. Not FUD.