Are continuation applications considered national applications?

Are continuation applications considered national applications?

Yes, continuation applications are considered national applications. They are a type of nonprovisional application that continues the examination process of a previously filed application.

The MPEP 201.01 states: ‘National applications include original (nonprovisional), reissue, design, plant, and provisional applications.’ While continuation applications are not explicitly mentioned in this list, they fall under the category of nonprovisional applications.

Continuation applications allow applicants to pursue additional claims based on the disclosure of a parent application. They are filed before the parent application is abandoned or patented and claim the benefit of the parent application’s filing date.

For more information on continuation application, visit: continuation application.

For more information on nonprovisional application, visit: nonprovisional application.

For more information on USPTO, visit: USPTO.