-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ub7DQ7vf3LpJynJvd8i0YUpKfwJRfHRvdGHHTEg8SST4NgbB25iip7c/jqW75P4O
 6og+aCnyz6gRt+bQQal7Og==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001222856-08-000012.txt : 20081104
<SEC-HEADER>0001222856-08-000012.hdr.sgml : 20081104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081104150158
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001222856-08-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081104

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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 COMMERCE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06825
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(203) 368-6044

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 COMMERCE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06825

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOWARD RUSTIN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222856

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08696
		FILM NUMBER:		081160557

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17 CAYUGA STREET
		CITY:			TRUMANSBURG
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14886
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-10-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222856</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOWARD RUSTIN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>777 COMMERCE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAIRFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06825</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>2008-10-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rustin R. Howard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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