"On its face, Eastman Chemical’s lawsuit against two small Texas labs that have said its plastics may be unsafe for consumption looks like a David and Goliath kind of fight (in fact, that’s how the labs are describing it). Corporate giant attempts to silence scientists -- including a professor at the University of Texas at Austin -- from publicizing research that runs counter to its commercial interests."

"But the case is also more nuanced, with both sides potentially having a financial stake in the outcome. That's given it unusual sticking power in a legal system that typically leaves questions of science to the scientists, and raised questions about the intersection of academic freedom and private enterprise. And in a development that has attracted conflict-of-interest watchdogs in the publishing realm, Eastman is trying to block the release of letters showing its funding the writing of a paper that supports its position.

But the case is also more nuanced, with both sides potentially having a financial stake in the outcome. That's given it unusual sticking power in a legal system that typically leaves questions of science to the scientists, and raised questions about the intersection of academic freedom and private enterprise. And in a development that has attracted conflict-of-interest watchdogs in the publishing realm, Eastman is trying to block the release of letters showing its funding the writing of a paper that supports its position.nm,""

Colleen Flaherty reports for Inside Higher Ed July 8, 2013. [2]