-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 gB8SuUEPGbdg23Cx0cJhQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001194713-04-000003.txt : 20041217
<SEC-HEADER>0001194713-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20041217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041217115042
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001194713-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041217

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000102198
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PATENT OWNERS & LESSORS [6794]
		IRS NUMBER:				362664428
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1960 BRONSON ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 1
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06824
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2032556044

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1960 BRONSON ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 1
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06824

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSITY PATENTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARVER RICHARD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194713

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08696
		FILM NUMBER:		041210393

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1960 BRONSON RD
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06824
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000102198</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194713</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARVER RICHARD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1960 BRONSON RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAIRFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06824</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16720</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael D. Davidson (attorney in fact for Richard E. Carver)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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