Academic Espionage: Striking the Balance Between Open and Collaborative Universities and Protecting National Security

American universities and research laboratories strive to foster open, collaborative spaces, where students from all over the world can come to learn from leading academics in their field of study. However, some people believe this open and collaborative environment is threatened by international students who are coming not to add to the environment, but rather to take from it. Academic espionage is not a new problem, but it is a problem that the Trump administration and Congress are working diligently to solve. Lawmakers, administrative agencies, and universities are striving to determine whether there are enough safeguards in place to protect the United States’ intellectual property. Alternatively, others are wondering whether the restrictions being put in place are truly necessary or if they are instead hindering the open exchange of ideas that is needed to advance science and research. This Recent Development argues that better awareness about academic espionage, not more safeguards, is required to protect the United States’ academic institutions.

• Author: Erin Grubbs
• Cite: Erin Grubbs, Academic Espionage: Striking the Balance Between Open and Collaborative Universities and Protecting National Security, 20 N.C. J. L. & Tech. On. 235 (2019), //ncjolt.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/05/Grubbs_Final.pdf.
• PDF: //ncjolt.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/05/Grubbs_Final.pdf
• Volume: Volume 20, Online Edition