Bayh-Dole march-in rights would handicap COVID-19 innovation

Scientists across America are working hard to develop treatments for and vaccines against COVID-19. Unfortunately, several activist groups are making their jobs harder.

Doctors Without Borders is urging governments to seize the patents on any coronavirus therapies that benefited from taxpayer-funded research. Universities Allied for Essential Medicines is making a similar push. These groups claim that such steps are necessary to prevent industry price gouging.

Their efforts are misguided. Confiscating patents would damage the innovation ecosystem that has generated breakthrough therapies and e...