What defines a substitute application in the context of patent applications?

A substitute application is characterized by having the same disclosure as an earlier application. This means that while it may come about due to some issues with the original application—such as the need to correct defects or to introduce changes in the claims—the fundamental content and description of the invention remain consistent with what was articulated in the earlier submission.

The intent behind a substitute application is often to clarify or reframe the intellectual property being claimed, rather than introducing entirely new concepts or disclosures. This is essential as the patent system requires the claims to be supported by the same disclosure that was in the prior application to avoid introducing new matter that could undermine the patentability of the claims.

In contrast, if claims are entirely new or significantly different from the original submission, this would typically not qualify as a substitute application, as it deviates from the core intent of maintaining the same foundational disclosure. Consequently, while the other answer options may seem plausible, none align with the critical defining feature of a substitute application effectively represented by the answer that focuses on sameness in disclosure.