President and Fellows of Harvard College

Company Overview

The President and Fellows of Harvard College, commonly known as Harvard University, is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The "President and Fellows of Harvard College," also called the Harvard Corporation, is the university's primary governing board, chartered in 1650. As a nonprofit, operating institution, Harvard has the world's largest university endowment, valued at $50.7 billion as of 2023.

Products and Operations

As a major research university, Harvard's principal operations are undergraduate, graduate, and professional education and research across a wide range of academic fields. A key part of its operation involves the commercialization of intellectual property developed through its research. Harvard’s Office of Technology Development (OTD) is responsible for managing the university's inventions and patents. The OTD facilitates patenting, licensing, and venture creation to translate new inventions into useful products. It manages intellectual property assets, handles legal and administrative costs for patent filing, and creates licensing agreements with industry partners to commercialize university-owned technology.

Patent-Litigation Posture

The provided data shows Harvard as a plaintiff in two patent cases and a defendant in none. This is consistent with its status as an operating company that actively manages and enforces its intellectual property rights, often alongside its commercial licensees. Major research universities like Harvard frequently file patent infringement suits to protect the value of technology developed on campus and licensed to corporate partners. Both tracked cases were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, a common venue for patent litigation.

Notable Cases and Context

The two tracked cases show Harvard as a co-plaintiff with 10x Genomics, Inc., its exclusive licensee for certain technologies. The suits, filed in 2022, accused NanoString Technologies and Vizgen, Inc. of infringing Harvard-owned patents related to gene-mapping and spatial genomics technology. These technologies allow scientists to map gene expression within cells and tissues. The case against Vizgen involved complex counterclaims of antitrust and breach of contract before being settled mid-trial in February 2025. The litigation against NanoString also extended to European courts. These enforcement actions highlight Harvard's strategy of protecting its patented research by partnering with its licensees in litigation against competitors.