What does Rule 1.53(b) govern?

Rule 1.53(b) governs the filing of new applications and all types of continuation applications, which is a comprehensive scope encompassing both standard utility applications and their continuations. This rule outlines the procedures and requirements for applicants who seek to file a continuation application, allowing them to pursue additional claims or refine their original application based on new insights or further developments of the invention.

The choice of this answer highlights the rule's importance in supporting a streamlined process for applicants to build upon their original filings without needing to start from scratch. This is particularly valuable in the patent system, as it facilitates better management of claims and allows for further examination of the inventive aspects of the application in question.

The other choices are more limited in scope and do not fully reflect the broad applicability of Rule 1.53(b). For instance, the reference to provisional applications only does not capture the full context of Rule 1.53(b), which indeed applies beyond just provisional filings. Similarly, the focus on divisional applications or design applications filed before 2003 ignores the rule’s provisions that extend to various types of continuation applications, thus illustrating why the correct answer encompasses a broader range of application types.