A public research facility should not patent its inventions  Such facilities, because they are supported by public funds, should encourage the free flow of ideas  A public research facility that retains the right to patent an invention has a motive to suppress the free flow of ideas in order to profit from the patent
Retaining the right to patent inventions is contrary to the public research facility' s obligation to do work intended for the benefit of the public
It provides a roadmap for the passage.