How does claiming benefit to a provisional application affect the effective filing date?

Claiming benefit to a provisional application can affect the effective filing date of a claimed invention as follows: If the application properly claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to a provisional application, the effective filing date of a claimed invention is the filing date of the provisional application for any claims which are fully supported…

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How is the effective filing date determined for continuation-in-part (CIP) applications?

The effective filing date for claims in a continuation-in-part (CIP) application is determined based on the support provided in the parent application: If the application is a continuation-in-part of an earlier U.S. application or international application, any claims in the new application not supported by the specification and claims of the parent application have an…

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How is the effective filing date determined for continuation and divisional applications?

For continuation and divisional applications, the effective filing date is determined as follows: If the application is a continuation or divisional of one or more earlier U.S. applications or international applications and if the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 120, 365(c), or 386(c) have been satisfied, the effective filing date of a claimed invention is the…

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How is the effective filing date determined for continuation applications?

For continuation applications, the effective filing date is generally determined based on the earliest application in the chain that supports the claimed invention. The MPEP 2152.01 provides guidance on this: “In the case of a continuation application, continuation-in-part application, or divisional application claiming the benefit of a prior-filed nonprovisional application under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121,…

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How do continuing applications affect patent term?

For continuing applications (continuations, divisionals, or continuations-in-part) filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term ends 20 years from the filing date of the earliest application to which benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c). This is true even if the earlier application was filed before June 8, 1995.…

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