] A leading Internet standards-setting organization took the
] unusual step yesterday of urging the director of the
] United States Patent and Trademark Office to invalidate a
] software patent that the group says threatens the
] development of the World Wide Web.

i wouldn't say they're backing MS, but they are acknowledging that this patent would do great damage to the operation of the modern world wide web if Eolas started going after all the other browser makers (though they've said they won't).

Web Group Backs Microsoft in Patent Suit