Protecode, Launches an Extension to Enterprise IP Analyzer

Protecode (News - Alert), creator of the software Intellectual Property engine, today launched the Library IP Auditor (LA), an extension to the Protecode Enterprise IP Analyzer product in its flagship product suite of IP assessment tools.

The addition of this product is in response to the growing usage of open source and other third-party content in enterprises and the interest in integrating applications with existing development processes.

Mark Driver, vice president and research director of Gartner (News - Alert) Research said, “Using open source and other external software can speed product delivery and save costs; however, injecting any kind of 3rd party code into proprietary software can put the code base at risk. With the growing usage of open source in mobile devices, embedded components, the healthcare industry, and the resulting changes in the landscape of software outsourcing, there is a need for IP management to anticipate code contamination and prevent costly legal action.”

Kamal Hassin, director of product management at Protecode said, “Whether you’re developing your own software, incorporating 3rd party components, or considering a business decision involving software assets, open source code can be introduced at any stage of the software development lifecycle. Companies are finding it difficult to keep track of software components and the associated legal obligations. By integrating IP management with other application lifecycle management processes, license compliance becomes straightforward and efficient. Accelerating innovation doesn’t have to be a risky business.”

A key concern of any enterprise whether it is legal, technical, or business is the value of its company and products, which depends on the cleanliness of their IP. Protecode LA automatically analyzes any code that is deposited into the organization’s Source Control Management (SCM) library to ensure compliance with the company’s established IP policy. During analysis, Protecode LA queries the Protecode Global Intellectual Property Signatures (GIPS) database to determine the code pedigree and it’s associated licensing and copyright obligations. Separate IP policies can be established for specific projects in the library. If violations are detected, an email is sent to the administrator or other predetermined user with appropriate details for action to be taken.

In addition to LA, Protecode is offering new features in its EA product. This multi-purpose, standalone tool analyzes and identifies all code in a portfolio and produces customizable reports that identify all licensing attributes of the source or object code.

These new EA features focus on usability and scalability for large enterprises, making analysis very simple and at the same time highly customizable. Improvements to EA include faster report navigation, customizable user roles and policy management, re-branded client interface and upgrade simplification.