As it has recently come out that Symantec is one of the companies central in encouraging the European Commission in causing trouble for Microsoft and its Vista launch next year, it's no surprise that the security software and services company would start leveling accusations aimed directly at the software giant in Redmond.  Symantec, a company best known to consumers for its anti-virus and anti-spyware tools, is now accusing Microsoft of withholding key APIs needed to build effective security tools that can operate with Windows Vista.

Microsoft fired back saying that as of Friday, September 22nd, coinciding closely with the release of Vista RC1, the APIs needed to disable Windows Defender and use some of the functionality to enhance third party security applications.  Symantec claims that Microsoft, despite the Sept. 22nd announcement, have yet to make the APIs available.

This comes at a crucial time as software developers race to build Vista compatible applications.  For many who sell in the retail space, or as bundled products with computers from companies like Dell or HP, the deadline to get disks and boxes to manufacturing and then through distribution is rapidly approaching.  Symantec has a late-October deadline to get their software out for OEM distribution.  Their fear is that Microsoft will finally release the APIs a few days before that date so they can say they technically provided it, but not give enough time for developers to actually make their software function with it.