What is considered a ‘new’ patent application?

A ‘new’ patent application is a nonprovisional application that has not yet received an action by the examiner. According to MPEP 203.01: An amendment filed prior to the first Office Action does not alter the status of a ‘new’ application. It’s important to note that a request for continued examination (RCE) is not considered a…

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What is a substitute application?

A substitute application is a type of national application that is filed to replace a previously filed non-provisional or provisional application. It is used when an applicant wants to start over with a new application while maintaining the benefit of the earlier filing date for common subject matter. Key points about substitute applications: They are…

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What types of applications are considered ‘new’ under MPEP 203.01?

According to MPEP 203.01, only nonprovisional applications can be considered ‘new’. The section states: A ‘new’ application is a nonprovisional application that has not yet received an action by the examiner. This means that provisional applications, which are place-holder applications that don’t get examined, are not classified as ‘new’ applications under this definition. Only nonprovisional…

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