How is an applicant notified that their CPA request has been accepted?

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 ¶ 2.30, the applicant is typically notified that their CPA request has been accepted through the first Office action on the CPA. The MPEP states: “Use this form paragraph in the first Office action of a CPA to advise the applicant that a request for a CPA is acceptable and that a CPA has been established.” This notification is important because, as the MPEP notes, “applicant is not notified of the abandonment of the parent nor is a filing receipt normally sent for a CPA.”