This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
The first Office action of a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) includes important information for the applicant. According to MPEP ¶ 2.35, the examiner should:
- Advise the applicant that a ‘conditional’ request for a CPA is treated as an unconditional request
- Confirm that the CPA is acceptable and has been established
- Provide notice that an action on the CPA follows
This information is crucial because, as stated in the MPEP, “applicant is not notified of the abandonment of the parent nor is a filing receipt normally sent for a CPA.” Therefore, this Office action serves as an important communication regarding the status of the application.
For more information on CPA, visit: CPA.
For more information on patent examination, visit: patent examination.
For more information on USPTO communication, visit: USPTO communication.