Latest news with #Bayh-DoleAct
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Trump administration threatens to seize Harvard patents in federal funding dispute
The Trump administration has warned Harvard University that it could lose control of its lucrative patent portfolio, adding to the ongoing confrontation between the White House and the Ivy League institution, reported The Guardian. In a letter posted online Friday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Harvard of breaching legal and contractual obligations tied to research funded by the federal government. Lutnick said the Commerce Department had initiated a 'march-in' process under the Bayh-Dole Act, which allows the government to take ownership of patents or issue new licences if certain requirements are not met. 'The Department places immense value on the groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements that emerge from the Government's partnerships with institutions like Harvard,' Lutnick wrote. He added that the university had a 'critical responsibility' to ensure that the federally funded intellectual property benefits the American public. Lutnick gave Harvard four weeks to submit a list of all patents linked to federal research grants, including details on their use and whether licensing agreements require 'substantial US manufacturing', The Guardian reported. As of 1 July 2024, Harvard's Office of Technology Development reported more than 5,800 active patents and over 900 technology licences with 650 industry partners. The patent review is the latest step in a broader White House campaign against Harvard, which the administration has accused of violating civil rights law by not fully complying with directives on addressing alleged antisemitism linked to student protests over Israel's war in Gaza. In April, Harvard sued the federal government after billions of dollars in research funding were frozen or revoked. Other universities under similar scrutiny, including Columbia University and Brown University, have reached financial settlements with Washington. Enacted in 1980, the bipartisan Bayh-Dole Act allows institutions to retain ownership of inventions developed with federal funding, provided they meet certain conditions. Supporters, including former President Jimmy Carter, have described the law as key to fostering innovation and strengthening the US economy. (With inputs from The Guardian)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Now the US launches sweeping investigation into Harvard patents over Bayh-Dole Act violations
Now the US launches sweeping investigation into Harvard patents worth hundreds of millions in federal research funding The US Department of Commerce has initiated a wide-ranging investigation into Harvard University's management of patents derived from federally funded research. The inquiry could potentially impact intellectual property assets valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between Harvard and the Trump administration. On a Friday, US Commerce Secretary Howard W. Lutnick sent a two-page letter to Harvard President Alan M. Garber, publicly posted on X, announcing an "immediate comprehensive review" of the university's compliance with the Bayh-Dole Act—a 1980 federal law governing inventions developed with federal research funding. The move comes amid a months-long confrontation between the White House and Harvard over multiple allegations of misconduct. Focus on federal compliance and patent disclosures According to the letter, as reported by The Harvard Crimson, Lutnick accused Harvard of failing to meet key federal obligations under the Bayh-Dole Act. These include timely disclosure of inventions developed with federal support, ensuring substantial US-based manufacturing for licensed technologies, and prioritising public benefit in the commercialisation process. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She's 75 and Retiring - Her Handcrafted Jewelry Is 80% OFF Artisan Weekly Read More Undo Lutnick has directed the university to submit a detailed list of all patents associated with federal funding by September 5. The requested data includes disclosure dates, current use, and the full licensing terms of each patent. The Commerce Department did not name any specific patents suspected of violating federal laws. "The Department places immense value on the groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements that emerge from the Government's partnerships with institutions like Harvard," Lutnick wrote, as quoted by The Harvard Crimson. "However, this privilege carries with it a critical responsibility." Harvard's extensive patent and licensing portfolio under scrutiny As of July 1, 2024, Harvard held over 58,000 patents and maintained more than 900 active technology licences with industry partners, according to the Harvard Office of Technology Development. These agreements play a central role in the university's collaborations across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. W hile Lutnick's letter focuses on patents developed through government-funded research, The Harvard Crimson notes that the university has also received $300 million in research funding from private companies over the past five years. By comparison, Harvard received $684 million in federal funding in the 2024 fiscal year, although access to such grants has been largely frozen under the Trump administration. Ongoing White House campaign against Harvard The investigation follows a series of actions by the White House targeting Harvard since April. These include suspending over $2 billion in federal research funding and accusing the university of failing to disclose financial information, colluding with other Ivy League institutions on financial aid, and allegedly training Chinese Communist Party officials. In June, President Trump claimed settlement negotiations were underway between Harvard and the administration. However, The Harvard Crimson reported that Garber dismissed speculation that the university was considering a $500 million payment. Talks remain unresolved. Patent law provisions and possible government actions Under the Bayh-Dole Act, federal agencies hold "march-in rights" allowing them to reclaim ownership of federally funded inventions if the patent holder fails to comply with legal obligations. According to The Harvard Crimson, this marks the first instance in which the US government has invoked these powers as leverage in an enforcement action against a university. If Harvard is found noncompliant, the government may seize patent titles or issue third-party licences, significantly affecting the university's control over its intellectual property assets. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Epoch Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Commerce Department Could Take Ownership of Harvard Patents
The federal government is looking into Harvard University's patent rights, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an Aug. 8 letter to Harvard President Alan Garber. The Department of Commerce is initiating a 'march-in' process under the Bayh-Dole Act, a federal patent policy allowing recipients of federal funds to retain patent rights over their inventions made with federal funding.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump vs Harvard: US administration targets University over patents; launches comprehensive review
The Trump administration has launched a fresh offensive against Harvard University over patents, signaling a sharp escalation in tensions with the prestigious institution, a move that could potentially strip Harvard of more federal funding or intellectual property rights. In a letter sent Friday to Harvard President Alan Garber, obtained by CNN, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick alleged that the university is 'in breach of the statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements' linked to its federally funded research programs and the patents resulting from them. The Commerce Department is conducting an 'immediate comprehensive review' of Harvard's federally funded research programmes, Lutnick added. The secretary also announced the initiation of the 'march-in' process under the Bayh-Dole Act, which allows universities to patent research and inventions. This means that if Harvard has failed to disclose or patent its inventions, the federal govt could take ownership of the patents or grant third-party licences. The letter, first reported by Reuters, represents the latest effort by the administration to pressure the elite institution. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Mixed Pink Salt With This - Now She Can't Stop Losing Weight Break The Weight Learn More Undo The Trump administration has previously frozen billions of dollars in federal funding for research and has targeted Harvard's ability to host international students. Currently, Harvard and the Trump administration are involved in two lawsuits. Still, officials remain optimistic about the prospects of a deal with Harvard to restore funding to the school and drop lawsuits and investigations. The Trump administration has recently struck multicrore-rupee agreements with Columbia and Brown universities. 'While there's a lawsuit pending with Harvard, and I'm sure that lawsuit will play out, I do hope that Harvard will continue to come to the table with negotiations. Those talks are continuing, and we'd like to have a resolution there, outside of the courts,' Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a phone interview with CNN last month. Harvard has sent some signals it is willing to work with the Trump administration, including last month when The Harvard Crimson reported that websites for Harvard College centres serving minority and LGBTQ students and women had disappeared. The White House welcomed that development, viewing it as a goodwill gesture that one official described as 'good news.' McMahon last month also pointed to the departure of the heads of the university's Middle Eastern Studies centre as a positive step.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Trump admin threatens to seize millions in valuable Harvard patents
By Liam Knox and Hadriana Lowenkron The Trump administration threatened to assume ownership of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of patents from Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League college of failing to comply with the law on federal research grants. In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber on Friday, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the university is failing its obligations to US taxpayers, paving the way for a process that could result in the government seizing its patents under the Bayh-Dole Act. Harvard has until Sept. 5 to prove it's complying with the requirements, including whether it showed a preference for US manufacturing, or risk forfeiting its patents, according to the letter that was viewed by Bloomberg News. The government could issue third-party licenses to Harvard's patents. 'This unprecedented action is yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom,' said a university spokesperson. 'We 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.' The move is the latest escalation of the White House's pitched battle with Harvard over more than $2 billion in suspended federal funding as the two parties negotiate over a potential settlement. It is also the first time that the administration is leveraging the Commerce Department and patent law in its pressure campaign against Harvard and other elite institutions. The university has sued over the withheld funding as well as the administration's attempts to ban the school from enrolling international students. The Trump administration is seeking at least a $500 million payment from the university to return the federal funds, Bloomberg News has reported. Harvard reportedly has balked at that figure.
