What characterizes a transitional application?

A transitional application is specifically characterized by its filing date and the duration of its treatment under patent law. It is important to understand that transitional applications refer to those filed under special regulations established after the enactment of the American Inventors Act (AIA) and relate primarily to applications that were pending or filed before the change in law was enacted. The specific date of June 8, 1995, is critical because applications filed before this date are eligible for certain protections or rights that may not apply to later applications.

The transitional nature allows these applications to be given some form of "special treatment" as they adapt to the new rules brought about by the AIA, which changed how certain claims and processes are assessed. Hence, the characteristic that defines a transitional application involves its association with applications filed before a specific date and the unique handling it receives in response to legislative changes, which is accurately captured in the choice regarding special treatment for applications before June 8, 1995.

Other options do not correctly encapsulate the essences of transitional applications in the context of patent law and do not focus on the unique aspects that define their transitional character.