Shuttleworth to Microsoft: Talk to The Hand

says in a blog posting not to expect Microsoft, a la Novell:

Shuttleworth said he was seeking to cut off rumors that there would be talks with Microsoft, although he left the door open for some discussions, but likely further down the road.

"I have no objections to working with Microsoft in ways that further the cause of free software, and I don't rule out any collaboration with them, in the event that they adopt a position of constructive engagement with the free software community," Shuttleworth wrote. "It's not useful to characterize any company as "intrinsically evil for all time." But I don't believe that the intent of the current round of agreements is supportive of free software, and in fact I don't think it's particularly in Microsoft's interests to pursue this agenda either. In time, perhaps, they will come to see things that way too."

Comments left under Shuttleworth's blog post were almost entirely supportive.