Harvard has been dealt a rough hand by the Trump administration. Not only are billions of dollars of federal funding and the ability to host foreign students in the balance, one of their graduates is throwing the cards at them! The “negotiations” between Harvard and Trump appeared to be coming to a close based on one of the President’s Truth Social posts:
Two things. First, that deal that might have been announced in the next week was just wishful thinking. Second, Harvard’s “extremely appropriate” responses to the strong-arming may have changed too — because the administration is now looking to take even more from the school. Law360 has coverage:
The U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday threatened to invoke the government’s so-called march-in rights to take control of patents owned by Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League institution of not meeting its obligations tied to federally funded research.
You don’t have to look far beyond the legalese to see this for what it is: a “negotiation tool” meant to force Harvard to bend the knee. If the administration really wanted to go after people that “failed to live up to [their] obligations to the American taxpayer,” they’d be putting whoever told Trump tariffs were a good idea in a Times Square pillory. For what it’s worth, Harvard was quick to respond. Here’s what they told Law360:
“This unprecedented action is yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom.”
“Technologies and patents developed at Harvard are life-saving and industry-redefining…[w]e are fully committed to complying with the Bayh-Dole Act and ensuring that the public is able to access and benefit from the many innovations that arise out of federally funded research at Harvard.”
Very collegiate way of saying, “We’ll deal with your bullshit paperwork, go kick rocks.” I’d expect nothing less from Harvard.
Trump Admin Threatens To Take Harvard’s Patents [Law360]
Earlier: Harvard Law Graduate Is Helping Trump Attack Her Alma Mater
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
The post Department Of Commerce Threatens Harvard’s IP Rights To Gain Leverage In Negotiations appeared first on Above the Law.
Harvard has been dealt a rough hand by the Trump administration. Not only are billions of dollars of federal funding and the ability to host foreign students in the balance, one of their graduates is throwing the cards at them! The “negotiations” between Harvard and Trump appeared to be coming to a close based on one of the President’s Truth Social posts:
Two things. First, that deal that might have been announced in the next week was just wishful thinking. Second, Harvard’s “extremely appropriate” responses to the strong-arming may have changed too — because the administration is now looking to take even more from the school. Law360 has coverage:
The U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday threatened to invoke the government’s so-called march-in rights to take control of patents owned by Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League institution of not meeting its obligations tied to federally funded research.
You don’t have to look far beyond the legalese to see this for what it is: a “negotiation tool” meant to force Harvard to bend the knee. If the administration really wanted to go after people that “failed to live up to [their] obligations to the American taxpayer,” they’d be putting whoever told Trump tariffs were a good idea in a Times Square pillory. For what it’s worth, Harvard was quick to respond. Here’s what they told Law360:
“This unprecedented action is yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom.”
“Technologies and patents developed at Harvard are life-saving and industry-redefining…[w]e are fully committed to complying with the Bayh-Dole Act and ensuring that the public is able to access and benefit from the many innovations that arise out of federally funded research at Harvard.”
Very collegiate way of saying, “We’ll deal with your bullshit paperwork, go kick rocks.” I’d expect nothing less from Harvard.
Trump Admin Threatens To Take Harvard’s Patents [Law360]
Earlier: Harvard Law Graduate Is Helping Trump Attack Her Alma Mater
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
The post Department Of Commerce Threatens Harvard’s IP Rights To Gain Leverage In Negotiations appeared first on Above the Law.
