On November 9, six major research universities, including Harvard and Yale, were the first to sign a joint pledge promising more relaxed patent policies regarding drugs and medical products discovered on their campuses.

The pledge, entitled the “Statement of Principles and Strategies for the Equitable Dissemination of Medical Technologies,” states that the universities will prevent their patents from hindering rather than promoting worldwide access to the best possible treatment.

It also supports the increased development of medications for AIDS, tuberculosis, and water-borne disease, among others.

Steven J. Fluharty, the…