What is a continuation in part (CIP) application?
A continuation in part (CIP) patent application is one in which further development occurs on an invention after the initial, non-provisional (parent) patent application is filed. New subject matter is added to the parent application and the new patent application is called a CIP application. As long as the new developments in the invention are added to a patent application that is still pending (i.e., not issued or abandoned), then the parent application will not be cited against the inventor by the PTO examiner, however, priority for the new subject matter is only given up back to the filing date of the CIP application. If a patent application claiming the new developments is not filed while the parent application is pending, then the PTO examiner may use the parent application against the inventor by stating that the new developments are not novel or are obvious in view of the parent application.
