First, you have to give very strong evidences that they are not "like the previous regime", or that there is a "previous" at all. All I see right now is PR and strategic moves (let's do what google did, even a bit late).

Secondly, given the track record, it is fair that it will take a long time before their past is forgiven. At least the same number of years of doubt that they spent misbehaving. And again that supposes they are not doing it right now. Like patent trolling, or moving software you could buy to a rent-only model, or put spywares in their new OS.

I strongly believe MS is not getting better, just getting better at communicating. They are not in a monopoly anymore and they can't get away with a "linux is cancer" like they used to do.

The only thing that bother me is that the Gates are getting away with it. They detached them self from MS, and now make heavy communication on their charity, so everybody seems to think they are saints. People have very short memory.

With decades of bad behavior I don't understand why they would ever be trusted. Its not like Gates is dead and buried and there certainly is continuity between the old regime and new.

I don't think that's a fair assessment; I'm going to judge them on their present actions rather than their past behavior, when the market, leadership etc. were all different. They seem to be trying to adapt to the new market reality where open source and dev friendly tools/software creates goodwill and promotes adoption.

Will the next versions of Microsofts closed/licensed software be open? Will someone have to make a case that they need to remain closed? Will they release new products that are closed/licensed?

I assume they'll make all Windows updates open-source from now on then?

Yes, because their OS is now evergreen, there will never be another "Windows X" and it will be forever closed. If/when they make the OS open (and ideally their other products as well) only then can his statement be taken seriously.