It is real, and is starting to spread over tech sites.
Apparently though, it only applies to OEM versions of Windows, and not to retail copies which you purchase independently of your computer.
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=13705
Still Microsoft is pushing things way too far - if there weren't so many programs which are not compatible with Linux, I'd have switched over long ago. I've already replaced IE with Firefox, and only use IE when I absolutely have no choice (Panda online anti-spyware scanner, Windows Update, etc).