Lab Journals and research...

[DrWho]

Does anyone know the rules regarding lab journals?

I've just started doing my own research, which involves a lot of new

ideas and approaches to loudspeaker design. My dad has recommended that

I start keeping a lab journal. Purchase one with prenumbered pages,

write in pen, date everything, etc etc...

Are there other considerations that I need to take into account? He

wasn't sure if I also needed to get someone to initial ideas showing

that they understand what I'm trying to explain. Apparently I at least

need to have every completed log book signed by a few people.

I definetly don't have the time or money to get some of these ideas

patented and apparently this journal would be a good tool in protecting

myself in the future (not to mention help me organize my thoughts

better too).

Here are a few links I came across:

http://www.hollandbiotechnology.nl/companies/vereenigde/vereenigde.html

http://inventors.about.com/cs/logbook/ht/Log_book.htm

Do they pretty much cover anything?

A while ago a few lawyers emailed me and gave me free advice about some

wierd clauses in patent law? Something like I have two years after

sharing my ideas to apply for a patent and then after that I'm screwed?

I'd rather not have to worry about all this dumb stuff, but it'd also

suck if one of my ideas worked really well and then not get the credit

for it...

Thanks in advance for any insight (and thanks to the other guys that

have emailed me in the past...). I'm sure some of ya's will want to

know what I'm working on, but I ain't telling [] (it is related to

horns though) [H]

[djk]

I would suggest that you read 'The Case Against Patents' by Don Lancaster.

US Patent law was gutted by congress in 2000, the situation outlined in Don's book has only become worse since then.

You can buy the book from Don, or get it on an intra-library loan.

[efzauner]

Be very carefull, using a lab journal to collect experimental data is patented. It is a method patent called "method of permanent data recording on cellulose fiber by organically controlled dye indicator"

[Mark Hardy]

You'll want to have every page witnessed/countersigned (preferably with a few days to weeks after the experiment/data/idea was performed or recorded). Ideally, this should be by someone who is well-versed in the art, but without a vested interest (e.g., a lab researcher and his/her supervisor shouldn't countersign each others' lab notebooks).

IF you make a mistake in an entry, cross it out with a single line (i.e., leave it legible) and date and initial the crossout, AND write a brief explanation (e.g., "calculation error").

"N/A" any blank pages or large blank spaces on a page; initial and date.

Finally, IF you attach hardcopies into the notebook (e.g., print-outs, graphs, etc.), you should sign (initial) and date across the hardcopy onto the notebook page (like a watermark). This documents the conneciton between the attachment and the page. We're also required to write the notebook page number when we do this.