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.
A Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) is a type of continuation or divisional application that can be filed for design patent applications under 37 CFR 1.53(d). It allows an applicant to continue prosecution of a prior design application. As stated in the MPEP:
A continuation or divisional application (but not a continuation-in-part) of a prior nonprovisional application may be filed as a continued prosecution application under this paragraph, provided that:
(i) The application is for a design patent;
CPAs can only be filed before the earliest of: payment of the issue fee, abandonment, or termination of proceedings on the prior application.
For more information on continued prosecution application, visit: continued prosecution application.
For more information on CPA, visit: CPA.
For more information on design patents, visit: design patents.
For more information on patent applications, visit: patent applications.