This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
According to MPEP ¶ 2.35, the USPTO treats ‘conditional’ requests for Continued Prosecution Applications (CPAs) as unconditional requests. The MPEP explicitly states:
Any ‘conditional’ request for a CPA submitted as a separate paper is treated as an unconditional request for a CPA.
This means that even if an applicant submits a CPA request with conditions attached, the USPTO will process it as a standard, unconditional CPA request. This policy ensures clarity and consistency in the application process.
For more information on CPA, visit: CPA.
For more information on USPTO procedures, visit: USPTO procedures.