Responding to Final Office Action for design application，本篇討論回應設計申請案的最終審查意見（Final Office Action），再筆記一次CPA等相關議題，還是可參考之前的：設計專利的CPA（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2013/09/cpa.html）
CPA（continued prosecution application，設計案的接續審查申請）的申請文件如下，已經說明很多事情了：
一、現行的CPA程序專屬美國設計專利，對於發明/植物專利而言，已被RCE取代。
二、CIP案不能提出CPA。
三、提出CPA請求，也就明確表示要拋棄前申請案，提出請求當天生效。
四、CPA（母案會被拋棄）相似於CA、DIV等延續案，但CA、DIV等延續案的母案不會被拋棄。
五、提出CPA請求，將被解釋為35USC122（申請案之公開），申請人拋棄其對「前申請案」的秘密，使得前申請案相關資料可被公眾取得。（編按，設計申請案不會被公開，直到領證）
六、在CPA申請案中，說明書中不用交代前申請案（申請文件要）。
關於CPA/設計申請規定如下：
1. 設計案的申請日指的是收到符合112規定的說明書（含至少一個Claim、圖式）那日。
2. 申請日後不得修正加入新事物。
3. 設計案本身的延續案包括CA, DIV與CIP，但設計案的CPA不能是CIP的形式（不得加入new matter）。
4. 提出CPA，應指出前申請案，主張的權利限定在前申請案揭露內容中。
5. 提出CPA表明拋棄前申請案。
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設計申請案相關申請規定：
37 CFR 1.53: APPLICATION NUMBER, FILING DATE, AND COMPLETION OF APPLICATION
37 CFR 1.53(b)
(b) Application filing requirements— Nonprovisional application. The filing date of an application for patent filed under this section, other than an application for a design patent or a provisional application under paragraph (c) of this section, is the date on which a specification, with or without claims, is received in the Office. The filing date of an application for a design patent filed under this section, except for a continued prosecution application under paragraph (d) of this section, is the date on which the specification as prescribed by 35 U.S.C. 112, including at least one claim, and any required drawings are received in the Office. No new matter may be introduced into an application after its filing date. A continuing application, which may be a continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part application, may be filed under the conditions specified in 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) and § 1.78.
(1) A continuation or divisional application that names as inventors the same or fewer than all of the inventors named in the prior application may be filed under this paragraph or paragraph (d) of this section.
(2) A continuation-in-part application (which may disclose and claim subject matter not disclosed in the prior application) or a continuation or divisional application naming an inventor not named in the prior application must be filed under this paragraph.
37 CFR 1.53(d)(1),(2)...
(d) Application filing requirements — Continued prosecution (nonprovisional) application.
(1) 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;
(ii) The prior nonprovisional application is a design application, but not an international design application, that is complete as defined by § 1.51(b), except for the inventor’s oath or declaration if the application is filed on or after September 16, 2012, and the prior nonprovisional application contains an application data sheet meeting the conditions specified in § 1.53(f)(3)(i); and
(iii) The application under this paragraph is filed before the earliest of:
(A) Payment of the issue fee on the prior application, unless a petition under § 1.313(c) is granted in the prior application;
(B) Abandonment of the prior application; or
(C) Termination of proceedings on the prior application.
(2) The filing date of a continued prosecution application is the date on which a request on a separate paper for an application under this paragraph is filed. An application filed under this paragraph:
(i) Must identify the prior application;
(ii) Discloses and claims only subject matter disclosed in the prior application;
(iii) Names as inventors the same inventors named in the prior application on the date the application under this paragraph was filed, except as provided in paragraph (d)(4) of this section;
(iv) Includes the request for an application under this paragraph, will utilize the file jacket and contents of the prior application, including the specification, drawings and the inventor’s oath or declaration from the prior application, to constitute the new application, and will be assigned the application number of the prior application for identification purposes; and
(v) Is a request to expressly abandon the prior application as of the filing date of the request for an application under this paragraph.
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關於專屬設計申請案的CPA，規定可參考：MPEP 201.06(d) 37 CFR 1.53(d) Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) Practice，摘錄重點如下：
1. 上述 37 CFR 1.53(d)規定設計的延續案（CA、DIV）稱為CPA。(A continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d) is called a "Continued Prosecution Application" or "CPA.")
2. 如果CPA是因為USPTO發出OA而提交的，USPTO會將CPA視為延續的修正案（amended application），而非新案，因此審查時間會比新申請案短。如果CPA並非基於OA，USPTO將其視為新申請案（但可提出petition或提出加速審查）。
3. 為了要讓CPA是基於修正所提交，MPEP建議提交CPA時可以提出初步修正（preliminary amendment）。
4. 與提出CA或DIV不同，提出CPA（37 CFR 1.53(d)），前申請案會被拋棄。
5. 如果想要新增設計特徵，提出CIP，要根據37 CFR 1.53(b)提交。
6. CPA案可以基於前申請的CPA案。
Ron
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