GIANT F~ O O D I NO. 
BOX 10 0 4 • WASHINGTON. D C 20013 
ESTHER PETERSON 
VICE PRESIDENT 
CONSUMER i'HOGRAMS 
October 5, 1976 
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson, Director 
Public Health Service 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
Please pardon my delay in responding to your letter of 
September 10 relative to patent applications on a process 
for forming recombinant DNA. My delay has been one of trying 
to think through this very important, complicated issue as it 
relates to the request in your letter. 
I must begin by saying I have no competence in the area 
of patents, but I am generally disturbed. After reading and 
being present at the meetings at NIH, I am aware of the explosive- 
ness of this research. I recognize your problems in trying to 
set up guidelines. It is such a delicate subject. I do feel 
that the primary objective of the entire project must be the 
dissemination of results of the research, particularly as 
regards public safety. It seems reasonable to encourage rapid 
dissemination of information as part of this effort to insure 
safety. I would hope that a patent process that best addresses 
itself to this end be adopted. I feel that probably the best 
would be #4. At some point, however, serious expert review 
of the safety implications should be incorporated into the 
process . 
I am concerned, though, as to why the patent? Is it for 
money making? Is it for control of ideas? I do not know, and I 
have not been able to do the research to find out. I feel very 
strongly about avoiding any confrnercialism in this area, and I 
am truly frightened. I think I can speak for most consumers 
when I say that we want assurance that no "Andromeda strain" 
will occur from the research. Whether any of the patent choices 
even touch on this question, I simply cannot tell. Some 
approaches seem to provide greater control on the patent than 
others by the government or by the institution, but that doesn't 
really address the consumer question. 
I regret that I cannot be moire constructive. I recognize 
the burden of the decision that you have. I do want positive 
research that can help mankind to go forward. I do not want 
the work commercialized unnecessarily or held back. However, 
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