Use of the facilities is intended only for basic research and/or product development purposes
National Science Foundation policy encourages Universities and similar institutions, under appropriate guidelines, to make publicly-funded capital equipment in University Laboratories available for the benefit of the competitiveness of American Industry. MIT and CMSE do not interpret this to include allowing use for lawsuits and other litigation.
Note also that there is no objection to the use of data, legitimately aquired as part of a product development or other research project at MIT, being used in a lawsuit, provided the user or his/her agents defend the data and do not subpoena or otherwise call on MIT CMSE staff or other MIT employees in connection with the action.
MIT-CMSE September 2007