Can a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) be filed for utility or plant patent applications?

Can a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) be filed for utility or plant patent applications? No, a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) cannot be filed for utility or plant patent applications. According to MPEP 201.06(d): ‘Effective July 14, 2003, CPAs are only available for design applications.’ This means that CPAs are exclusively for design patent applications. For…

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What are the requirements for a nonprovisional utility patent application to receive a filing date?

For nonprovisional utility patent applications filed on or after December 18, 2013, the requirements to receive a filing date are: A specification With or without claims Prior to December 18, 2013, the requirements were: A specification containing a description and at least one claim Any drawing necessary under 35 U.S.C. 113 The USPTO states: Effective…

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What are the requirements for submitting photographs as drawings in a patent application?

What are the requirements for submitting photographs as drawings in a patent application? Photographs are generally not permitted as drawings in patent applications unless they are the only practicable medium for illustrating the claimed invention. According to MPEP 608.02, “The Office will accept photographs in utility and design patent applications, however, if photographs are the…

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How are replacement drawings handled in utility patent applications after the Notice of Allowability?

Replacement drawings received in utility patent applications after the Notice of Allowability is mailed are handled differently: Where replacement drawings are received in utility patent applications after the Notice of Allowability was mailed, the replacement drawings are handled by the Office of Data Management. Submission to the examiner is not necessary unless an amendment to…

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