Source hxxp://bink.nu/
Note the 2nd sentence in the 2nd paragraph.
Microsoft Statement on Sunbelt Claims to GIANT Technology December 16, 2004 Statement On December 16, 2004, Microsoft announced that it acquired the intellectual property and technology of GIANT Company Software, a provider of anti-spyware and Internet security products. Subsequent to the announcement, some misleading public statements have been made regarding ownership terms of the anti-spyware technology acquired by Microsoft. While the terms of acquisition and legal agreements made by Giant prior to the acquisition are confidential, Microsoft would like to clarify some of the issues that have been raised in the press.
Microsoft plans to make a beta version of the spyware protection, detection and removal tool available to Windows customers within one month of the acquisition. This beta tool will be based on the Giant AntiSpyware product, which has been discontinued. Microsoft's upcoming beta solution, and any product offerings that Microsoft may subsequently deliver based on Giant technology, will be owned solely by Microsoft, and in no way will be co-owned by any third party.
Spyware solutions require definition updates-signatures of known spyware and other unwanted software-that are necessary to keep the solutions up-to-date. Because of a legal agreement between Sunbelt Software Distribution and Giant that preceded the Microsoft acquisition, Microsoft will provide spyware signature updates to Sunbelt through July 2007.
To state that Sunbelt has the exclusive right to offer SDKs for Giant AntiSpyware technology is completely inaccurate. Microsoft is very comfortable that it will be able to offer SDKs for its product without running afoul of the Giant/Sunbelt agreement. Further, the Giant/Sunbelt agreement does not in any way prohibit Microsoft from integrating the Giant technology with its own products.
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Originally Posted by zapjb
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