Security vendor Symantec accused Microsoft of abusing its monopoly in deciding which security products can run on its upcoming operating system.
Symantec said Microsoft, which started selling its own security products in May, is deliberately withholding information needed to develop products that work on Windows Vista.
'Microsoft is using their dominant position to regulate what security can be provided on their system and how that security is provided,' said Rowan Trollope, Symantec's VP for consumer engineering. 'Microsoft has regulated what choices are there: 'You're going to have our stuff no matter what.''
Although Symantec hasn't filed a formal complaint, the security company said it is going public with the concerns to pressure Microsoft to release software development kits that would allow rival products to communicate with Vista's new security features, including a dashboard designed to help customers easily see what protection programs are switched on.
European antitrust regulators have warned Microsoft not to shut out rivals in the security software market as it builds more security into Vista. The European Union and Microsoft are still involved in long battle over a 2004 EU ruling that found the software company guilty of abusing its monopoly to break into new markets.
Symantec said it may make a formal complaint to the European Commission if Microsoft does not respond.