Micorsoft's MSDN has the following to say about Internet Explorer and the quesiton about what would change if there was fallout from the embedded media patent suit.

From msdn.microsoft.com/ieupdate/:

"Given the present legal status as well as requests made by partners and customers, Microsoft will, for the time being, not move ahead with the modest steps it intended to take to modify Windows and Internet Explorer as a result of the August jury decision in the Eolas patent lawsuit. "

Ross : Link : Discussion Board