Symantec sues Microsoft over disputes related to contracts

Security application maker Symantec has sued the world’s biggest software company Microsoft. Symantec claims that Microsoft is misappropriating trade secrets to develop its own competing features and products.

They filed this lawsuit in the federal court in Seattle and are charging the Microsoft with misappropriating intellectual property and breach of contract. The contracts are related to a licensing deal with their recently acquired company Veritas.

Symantec is seeking an injunction that would block the further development, sale or distribution of Vista. Vista is the Microsoft’s next major operating system update scheduled for launch early next year and is already massively delayed.

The complained filed by Symantec said: “Microsoft’s pervasive and continuing disregard of Symantec’s intellectual property and contract rights has irreparably harmed Symantec and constitutes trade secret misappropriation.”

Microsoft commented on this lawsuit: “We are confident that our actions are wholly consistent with the legal agreements between Veritas and Microsoft and that these claims will be shown to be without merit.”