What is the difference between an ‘original’ and a ‘substitute’ application?
According to MPEP 201.02, there are important distinctions between ‘original’ and ‘substitute’ applications:
Original Application: This term is used in patent statutes and rules to refer to an application that is not a reissue application. An original application can be either a first filing or a continuing application.
Substitute Application: The MPEP defines a substitute application as follows:
A “substitute” application is in essence the duplicate of an application by the same applicant abandoned before the filing of the later application. […] A substitute application does not obtain the benefit of the filing date of the prior application.
The key difference is that a substitute application does not retain the filing date of the prior application, unlike certain types of continuing applications.
For more information on patent filing, visit: patent filing.
For more information on substitute application, visit: substitute application.