Chris you wrote,
"I have been following the discussion of IBLCE's Tenet 25, patents and
intellectual property on Lactnet, and I am writing to support Valerie
McClain's call to re-consider the wording of the tenet."

After reading what you wrote about the experience in Guatemala with Gerber in
which trademarks were an issue, I believe that we don't need a tenet on
intellectual property rights.  So I now support the removal of this tenet  not just
rewording it.

What needs to be asked is the why of this tenet?  How does the IBLCE
determine the need for additional tenets to our code of ethics?  What examples are we
following?  For instance, what other professions are requiring a code of
ethics on intellectual property rights?

We have approximately 1000 human milk component patents (patents and
applications for patents).  Ownership of living tissue or its gene constructs
(patenting) will impact our profession.  Public discussions of this issue are
virtually non-existent.   Is it because the US Government has partial and full
investments in this patenting that we are hesitant to make it an issue?  Or is it
because some human milk researchers have partial or full investments in this
patenting and we can't upset that situation?  When women donate their breastmilk
to some institutions, they are feeding the system of patenting of human milk
component and its gene constructs.  Is feeding our competition--the infant
formula, dairy, and pharmaceutical industries--a good idea?

Chris, I appreciate your comments on tenet 25.  I think you have brought up
an important point, another reason to reconsider this issue.  And thank you for
your help on the correct abbreviations of the IBLCE.  At this point, I think
I have it imprinted in my brain.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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