Microsoft gave them the usual "Sell to us or we will crush you, and here's what we want to pay" line.

Few can resist that line because: 1. they're dependent on inside information from Microsoft to understand how Windows and other Microsoft products actually work; 2. they know Microsoft can easily make their product not work; 3. they're quit aware of how Microsoft has crushed so many other businesses.

One that resisted was Micro Focus. Microsoft told them they would no longer pay royalties for Microsoft COBOL, Micro Focus could make money selling add-on products, and if this wasn't just fine Microsoft would get another COBOL and crush them out of existance. Today Micro Focus COBOL is still the leading COBOL for PCs and Microsoft has no COBOL. Not everyone can do that, though, and it cost Micro Focus some pain with needed information witheld.