Microsoft boosting Linux?

Reading through Slashdot today and coming up against some interesting news: "Microsoft Is Set to Give Linux a Boost Through Partnership With Novell". If this is true, this is the second time in few minutes I have to ask: Is this Microsoft we are talking about? I wonder if such an agreement will let Mono free (the part about patents and technology included in Suse Linux); that'd be very cool.

Update: It's true after all! Wow! This is fantastic. I am installing Mono. I will make an effort to support test my code against Mono where possible. I need to start looking at their progress. It's been a while since I last played with it.