i agree. MSFT doesn't need to buy anyone out, they can 'rent' the patents for much cheaper. If there was ever a time it would have been before the google trial so they could file for an injunction.
at this point there really is no advantage for them. they will wait for JJ to rule, use the ruling as their basis of negotiation of the rate they need to pay and done.
msft has a history of settling, they have gone through enough of the same market dominance issues/anti trust issues that google is experiencing now and have learned to admit if they erred and correct it to avoid bad press, messing with gov'ts and wasting time and money, ie they grew up and left their ego's at the door.
this next week and the week after we will see some incredible movement in the pps...hold on tight folks, after 9 months of this, I am very certain we are actually now 'almost there' ...something that has been said too much until now!