>If MS won't detail their allegations then the issues simply cannot be meaningfully discussed.

Not really. Microsoft may not want to discuss it publically, but will do so with specifc companies. I didn't get anything from the article that they won't do that.

>Do you have even one shred of evidence to back this assertion? My own suspicion is that they reached a blanket agreement not to prosecute each other, without any specifics. IOW to prevent the "patent Armageddon" as discussed in the article.

None. I'm just guessing, but it could have been done how you said.