actual reduction to practice. The empirical demonstration that an invention performs its intended purpose and is therefore complete for patent purposes; the use of an idea or invention — as by testing it — to establish that the idea or invention will perform its intended purpose. Brunswick Corp. v. U.S., 34 Fed. Cl. 532, 584 (1995).
constructive reduction to practice. The documented demonstration that an invention will perform its intended purpose, contained in a patent application that provides enough detail that a person skilled in the art could make and test the invention; the filing of a patent application for an invention or design. Brunswick Corp. v. U.S., 34 Fed. Cl. 532, 584 (1995). [Cases: Patents 90(5). C.J.S. Patents § 123.]
vicarious reduction to practice. A doctrine that treats one party’s actual reduction to practice of an invention as the opposing (usu. complaining) party’s actual reduction to practice. • In a two-party interference, proof of derivation is usu. sufficient; showing an actual reduction to practice is unnecessary. The doctrine is more important in a three-party interference. [Cases: Patents 90(5). C.J.S. Patents § 123.]