9/29/21, 6:40 AMHow to Start–and Keep–a Laboratory Notebook: Policy and Practical Guidelines1/2CHAPTER NO. 8.2How to Start–and Keep–a Laboratory Notebook: Policy and Practical GuidelinesEditor's Summary, Implications and Best PracticesKrattiger A, RT Mahoney, L Nelsen, JA Thomson, AB Bennett, K Satyanarayana, GD Graff, C Fernandez and SP Kowalski. 2007. Editor’s Summary,Implications and Best Practices (Chapters 8.2 and 8.3). From the online version ofIntellectual Property Management in Health and AgriculturalInnovation: A Handbook of Best Practices. MIHR: Oxford, U.K., and PIPRA: Davis, U.S.A. Available online at.© 2007. A Krattiger et al.Sharing the Art of IP Management:Photocopying and distribution through the Internet for noncommercial purposes ispermitted and encouraged.Key Implications and Best Practices:For Government PolicymakersFor Senior ManagementFor ScientistsFor Technology Transfer OfficersEditor's SummaryProper documentation of research is a critical component of best practices in IP management. Clear and consistent documentation is essential forpatentability determinations, drafting and prosecuting patent applications, and (if necessary) protecting patents from third-party challenges such asprior-art challenges or patent-interference proceedings. Methodical documentation will make patent management an easier task, which will, in turn,ensure that the maximum value of inventions is captured and that patents can be protected against challenges.Institutions must have documentation policies (such as institutional laboratory notebook policies) and protocols in place, and should train theiremployees to follow those policies and protocols.Properly kept laboratory notebooks are one of the most important sources of documentation. A laboratory notebook should contain detailed records ofevery experiment that has been planned or executed, including the date it was performed, the reasons for performing it, the methodology used in
