Patent Law FAQ
This FAQ answers all your questions about patent law, patent procedure, and the patent examination process.
For a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA), the specific reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 is the CPA request itself. This is explicitly stated in 37 CFR 1.53(d)(7).
According to MPEP ¶ 2.34:
“As set forth in 37 CFR 1.53(d)(7), a request for a CPA is the specific reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 to every application assigned the application number identified in such request.”
This means that when you file a CPA, the request itself serves as the necessary reference to the prior application, eliminating the need for additional amendments to the specification to establish continuity.
For more information on 35 U.S.C. 120, visit: 35 U.S.C. 120.
For more information on CPA, visit: CPA.
For more information on specific reference, visit: specific reference.