What is the definition of a continuation-in-part application?

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.

A continuation-in-part (CIP) application is a type of patent application that includes a portion or all of the disclosure from a prior application and adds new matter not disclosed in the prior application. The MPEP 201.08 states:

‘A continuation-in-part is an application filed during the lifetime of an earlier nonprovisional application, repeating some substantial portion or all of the earlier nonprovisional application and adding matter not disclosed in the said earlier nonprovisional application.’

This type of application allows inventors to expand upon their original invention while maintaining the priority date for the portions disclosed in the earlier application.

For more information on new matter, visit: new matter.

For more information on patent application types, visit: patent application types.