Setting Up a Legal Setting Up a Legal Scientific NotebookScientific Notebook

LAB NOTEBOOKSLAB NOTEBOOKS

Are these just busy Are these just busy work, or are they work, or are they really important?really important?

They are actually They are actually LEGAL documentsLEGAL documents that are used for that are used for getting patents and getting patents and for publishing for publishing research papersresearch papers

What makes a What makes a GOODGOOD notebook? notebook?

It is permanently bound (not spiral)It is permanently bound (not spiral) Written Written legiblylegibly in pen as a permanent in pen as a permanent

recordrecord No erasing, whiting-out or tearing out No erasing, whiting-out or tearing out

page-mistakes are crossed outpage-mistakes are crossed out Every page is numberedEvery page is numbered and has and has

your initials or signature and date on your initials or signature and date on itit

A legal scientific notebook A legal scientific notebook becomes the becomes the historical recordhistorical record of of all work done by a biotechnology all work done by a biotechnology

employeeemployee

Why is proper record keeping in a Why is proper record keeping in a bound notebook important?bound notebook important?

In the United States, the first person to In the United States, the first person to conceive and show diligence to develop an conceive and show diligence to develop an invention, product, or process is awarded invention, product, or process is awarded the the PATENTPATENT for that product or process. for that product or process. Notebooks that are properly prepared, Notebooks that are properly prepared, maintained, and witnessed are maintained, and witnessed are LEGALLEGAL EVIDENCE EVIDENCE of conception and diligence to of conception and diligence to practice an inventionpractice an invention

Serves as a reference for procedures and Serves as a reference for procedures and ideas so that experiments can be repeatedideas so that experiments can be repeated

Examples of Use in Court CasesExamples of Use in Court Cases

Settling patent disputes – who did it Settling patent disputes – who did it first/first/

Report of a specialist’s finding:Report of a specialist’s finding:• Paternity suitsPaternity suits• Criminal casesCriminal cases

Title Page Set UPTitle Page Set UP

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Strongsville High SchoolStrongsville High School

Your NameYour Name

Today’s DateToday’s Date

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous

You many need more than one You many need more than one notebook.notebook.

Everything needs to be in your Everything needs to be in your notebook.notebook.

Pre-lab quizzes you can use your Pre-lab quizzes you can use your notebooks.notebooks.

Make them user friendly.Make them user friendly.