# Continuation-in-part (CIP)

A type of continuation that adds new subject matter to the original specification. The original claims keep the parent's priority date; the new material gets a new priority date. CIPs are commonly used when an inventor has improved or expanded an invention after the original filing. The different priority dates within a CIP can create complications during litigation.

**Full entry:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary/continuation-in-part

**All patent terms:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary

---

_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. A plain-English glossary of US patent terms._