What is the relationship between a continuation-in-part application and its parent application?

What is the relationship between a continuation-in-part application and its parent application?

A continuation-in-part (CIP) application is a type of patent application that has a unique relationship with its parent application. According to MPEP 201.08:

“A continuation-in-part is an application filed during the lifetime of an earlier nonprovisional application, repeating some substantial portion or all of the earlier nonprovisional application and adding matter not disclosed in the said earlier nonprovisional application.”

This means that a CIP application:

• Contains some or all of the subject matter from the parent application
• Introduces new subject matter not present in the parent application
• Must be filed while the parent application is still pending

The relationship between a CIP and its parent is important for determining priority dates and the scope of patent protection.

For more information on new matter, visit: new matter.

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