MP3 Patent Fights Snarls Microsoft

What's it worth for Microsoft to be able to play MP3s in Windows Media Player? Or more to the point, if this case is ultimately ruled against Microsoft, what does the ruling mean to Apple and others who use software to play the billions of MP3s just lying around on PCs, Macs, iPods and other MP3 players?

This NY Times article may be able to shed some light on the whole thing, but it appears there are miles to go before this thing is put to bed.