Microsoft is not a monolithic entity. People in different parts of the company have legitimately different agendas, which is also a source of lots of Microsoft'

Microsoft is not a monolithic entity. People in different parts of the company have legitimately different agendas, which is also a source of lots of Microsoft's problems. I have no reason to doubt that that Alex Kipman and Shannon Loftis were being completely genuine, but it also wouldn't surprise me if MS' legal department tried legal action later on anyway. In a company with stronger leadership at the top, you might see a more consistent response (or at least a clear break when policies change), but I wouldn't expect that from MS.