Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson 
October 18, 1976 
Page Two 
It should be noted, however, that the exercise of regulatory 
controls through the patent process is, at best, an awkward practice. 
While it may be necessary to satisfy immediate concerns , over the 
long term, the Federal Government may well wish to consider the 
alternative of providing for regulation of the production process 
for industrial and commercial uses of recombinant DNA technology in 
a similar manner to Federal regulatory practices followed with 
respect to the food and drug industries. 
I regret that we do not have sufficient experience to comment 
in greater detail and more constructively on the Department's patent 
policy. 
Since 
yours , 
Philip Handler 
President 
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