University asks not to promote other university's research A university sent a letter requesting/advising its staff members not to interact with or promote a media coverage of a research study by a another university. 

The letter didn't include any explanation. Some colleagues believed it undermined academic freedom.

Apart from this specific case, is such request common? What are good reasons, if any, for it?
The only reason why you should not promote another university's research should lie in science itself.

(fell free to add more examples!)

Acceptable reasons:


Severe scientific misconduct by the other university (made up data)
Their results are too weak and do not support their conclusions
Their research is done incorrectly (bad methods, etc.)
...


Not acceptable:


Your professor does not like their professor
They got their project funded but you did not
They are more advanced on the topic than you
...