A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members  Universities, as guarantors of intellectual freedom, should encourage the free flow of ideas and the general dissemination of knowledge  Yet a university that retains the right to patent the inventions of its faculty members has a motive to suppress information about a potentially valuable discovery until the patent for it has been secured
Clearly, suppressing information concerning such discoveries is incompatible with the university' s obligation to promote the free flow of ideas
Universities that have a motive to suppress information concerning discoveries by their faculty members will occasionally act on that motive.