Trump administration threatens to strip Harvard University of lucrative patents
14 days ago
- #Bayh-Dole Act
- #Harvard
- #Federal Research Funding
- Trump administration reviews Harvard's federally funded research programs and threatens to strip patents.
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accuses Harvard of breaching legal and contractual obligations tied to federal research funding.
- Commerce Department initiates 'march-in' process under Bayh-Dole Act, potentially allowing government to take patent ownership or grant licenses.
- Harvard holds over 5,800 patents and 900 technology licenses with 650+ industry partners.
- Other universities like Columbia and Brown have settled with the government over federal research funding disputes.
- Harvard denies reports of being open to a $500M settlement, alleging White House leaks.
- Bayh-Dole Act, signed by Jimmy Carter, aims to strengthen patent incentives for U.S. innovation.
- Critics argue Trump administration's actions are pretexts to control academia and threaten free speech.