Open-source screening company hires legal muscle

Black Duck Software, whose products help companies identify when their programs use open-source software, has hired Karen Copenhaver as general counsel, the company plans to announce on Monday. She previously was a partner in the patent and intellectual property group of law firm Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault in Boston. In the new job at the 12-person Waltham, Mass.-based start-up, Copenhaver will provide advice on licensing issues and provide companies guidance on intellectual property issues.

Black Duck and Open Source Risk Management are two new companies that sprang up to grapple with the complicated intersection of open-source software, whose source code may be freely shared, and proprietary software, which must be kept secret.