Minxie Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 A Scottish university is battling a tobacco giant's attempt to gain access to its research into the smoking habits of thousands of teenagers. Philip Morris International (PMI), which makes Marlboro cigarettes, has submitted Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to Stirling University. The research examines why the teenagers start smoking and what they think of tobacco marketing. clicky Unbelievable the lengths some of these corporations will go to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 It's a two way street. It wouldn't be called 'Freedom of Information' otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merkin Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 This was a short sighted move by the university, how did they not see this coming? Academics are constantly submitting freedom of information requests to pharma companies etc because they want to test the findings and claims of the corporations. What would be the outcome if the request was refused or ignored? Edit for sp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambon Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 What Merkin said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alias Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Why should the university keep this information private? To make any claims on it, they'll have to release the data anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotsAlan Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 +1 more for Merkin. And as a side note, of no real interest... I was born in Stirling University... before it was a University Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il buono Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 The universities could always set up here, Freedom of information! No problem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merkin Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 The universities could always set up here, Freedom of information! No problem! As an aside - I spoted an IoM University centre on the Old Castletown Road a while ago and it got me thinking... I presume that it's some kind of boot camp associated with the IoM College for Liverpool John Moores, but.... A specialist university that dealt prodomintaly with finance and accountancy might work on the IoM, with a focus on overseas students who want a small, friendly place to study with good job prospects at the end. As the IoM's main industry, it makes sense to me to train financial people here rather than paying a fortune to poach them from Uk firms. Just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amadeus Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 The universities could always set up here, Freedom of information! No problem! As an aside - I spoted an IoM University centre on the Old Castletown Road a while ago and it got me thinking... I presume that it's some kind of boot camp associated with the IoM College for Liverpool John Moores, but.... A specialist university that dealt prodomintaly with finance and accountancy might work on the IoM, with a focus on overseas students who want a small, friendly place to study with good job prospects at the end. As the IoM's main industry, it makes sense to me to train financial people here rather than paying a fortune to poach them from Uk firms. Just a thought... They can't even run a business school without messing up the books - not a good omen for any bigger educational undertaking me thinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 A Scottish university is battling a tobacco giant's attempt to gain access to its research into the smoking habits of thousands of teenagers. Philip Morris International (PMI), which makes Marlboro cigarettes, has submitted Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to Stirling University. The research examines why the teenagers start smoking and what they think of tobacco marketing. clicky Unbelievable the lengths some of these corporations will go to. Why is this unbelievable? Makers of cigarettes have a big interest in this research surely. Especially if this data is used in any way to further bash the industry (ie plain [packaging etc). Plus, as others have said, freedom of information means exactly that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joushag Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Academics are constantly submitting freedom of information requests to pharma companies etc because they want to test the findings and claims of the corporations. The Freedom of Information Act only applied to public corporations and government I thought. How can academics get info from private companies under the Act? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 The Freedom of Information Act only applied to public corporations and government I thought. How can academics get info from private companies under the Act? My thoughts too, In which case I would like to know how to make Coca-Cola, what is that secret ingredient they never tell anyone about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ans Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 The University is Government funded effectively. I'm not sure it's really within the spirit of the act to enable companies to gain access to market research they wouldn't normally be allowed to gather themselves though but it will be up to the ICO to decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxy Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 They can't even run a business school without messing up the books - not a good omen for any bigger educational undertaking me thinks I heard that there was more to that place than meets the eye Amadeus... all hearsay of course..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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