The Patents and the Engineering Notebook entry in the REC library states:
- Witness signatures are no longer necessary because the notebook is not used for patent or legal reasons.
- Crossing out unused parts of a page is no longer necessary because there is no need to show that nothing was added after the page was created.
- Bound paper notebooks written in ink are no longer necessary because edits are now okay. Digital notebooks are now a valid option.
It also seems to imply that it's no longer necessary to date entries. The RECF ENB templates don't include spaces for witness signatures nor dates.
Yet the 2023-2024 Guide to Judging states:
Engineering Notebooks should contain these elements: [...]
- Errors crossed out using a single line (so errors can be seen)
- Unedited entries
- All pages intact; no pages or parts of pages removed.
- Each page/entry chronologically numbered and dated.
Can you please clarify the contradictions:
- Are witness signatures required? (I don't see anything requiring this, but it's a change from how it's been done forever and I want to be sure.)
- Are edits permitted?
- Are timestamps required?