MICROSOFT'S shy and retiring boss Steve 'there's a kind of hush' Ballmer might be gearing up to take Linux distributors to the cleaners.

According to Linux World, Ballmer is whispering to all who can hear that Linux infringes on Microsoft's intellectual property.

Speaking at the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) conference in Seattle, Ballmer said that Vole signed a deal with SuSE Linux distributor Novell because the outfit was using Microsoft's intellectual property.

He said that the deal was a way for Vole to get an 'appropriate economic return' for its shareholders from Microsoft's innovation.