This may be known information to others but I thought it was relevant given the topic
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Spyware/index.php?p=13

Of interest is the following quote:

"I recently wrote about CounterSpy, a fairly new antispyware utility from Sunbelt Software. I wasn't aware Sunbelt licensed the code base and definition file from Giant Company Software under a co-ownership deal. The story gets more interesting because Microsoft just acquired Giant Company Software. Sunbelt insists its licensing rights are still legitimate, while Microsoft wants to end the relationship by July 2007."