"Thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request, The New York Times May 22 revealed a restrictive agreement in place since 2006 between Richmond tobacco company Philip Morris and Richmond's public university, Virginia Commonwealth. In exchange for undisclosed millions of dollars from Philip Morris for tobacco research, VCU agreed not to publish or even discuss research without prior approval, according to the Times.

In addition, nearly all patents would belong to Philip Morris, not VCU-a direct violation of the university's own policies.

Could UVA have such a deal in place? Last year, UVA received $25 million from Philip Morris. Rick Solana, Philip Morris' senior vice president for research and technology, told the Times that the company had arrangements with other universities that are similar to the one with VCU, but he wouldn't name names." ('This Just In,' C-Ville Weekly, May 27, 2008)