How long must testing be conducted to suggest it was for experimental purposes?

To adequately suggest that testing was conducted for experimental purposes, it is essential that the testing lasts for a substantial period of time. This duration allows for meaningful data collection, observation of the effects, and analysis of results that can validate the assumptions or hypotheses being tested. A fleeting or short-term trial may not provide enough evidence of experimentation, as it might not capture the variability and full effects of the tested conditions.

Conducting tests over a longer period enables the examiner to demonstrate that the results are not merely anecdotal or coincidental but are significantly supported by adequate empirical data. Ongoing testing can also contribute to this evidence base, but without the requirement for the substantial character that indicates thorough experimentation. Initial development phases alone would typically be less indicative of systematic experimentation, as they may not yet involve extended testing across a variety of conditions.