Dr. Muir suggested the following as alternatives to specific exemptions 
for proprietary information: 
• allow a patent only if the applicant agrees to 
adhere to the act 
• supply statutory guidance as to what constitutes 
a "trade secret." 
Dr. Ancker-Johnson stated that the former suggestion is not possible because 
it would require changes in international patent conventions, and that the 
latter would be extremely difficult because we don't know what will be 
discovered in the future. Each representative has been given relevant 
materials addressing the patent issue. 
In addition to the provisions contained in the Bill of Particulars, it was 
suggested that provisions be included addressing: 
• conflict of interest 
• protection of an employee from employer harassment 
after registering a complaint (such as section 14(b) 
of S. 621) 
• exemption of a project from certain provisions of this 
legislation 
• authorization for appropriations for implementing the act. 
Next Meeting of the Interagency Committee 
All agency representatives are urgently requested to attend the March 10th 
meeting of the Interagency Committee from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 
Building l r conference room 114, 
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