Category Archives: classification

Swiss Patent Office Adopts CPC

Posted on October 19, 2012 by

As of Jan. 1, 2013, the Swiss Patent Office will classify patents using the CPC. This might be the first office (except for the EPO and USPTO) to officially adopt the CPC as its national classification.

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Cooperative Patent Classification Available

Posted on October 3, 2012 by

The USPTO and EPO have released the new Cooperative Patent Classification system ahead of the January 1, 2013 implementation date. Details are available at the CPC website. Documentation includes the entire CPC scheme, an initial set of definitions and CPC … Continue reading →

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Common Patent Classification Project

Posted on May 5, 2011 by

Interesting story in IP Frontline about the development of a common classification scheme by the EPO and USPTO. The project is one of ten joint initiatives announced last year by the USPTO, EPO, JPO, KIPO and SIPO. (See the Five … Continue reading →

Posted in classification, ECLA, Five IP Offices, USPC | Leave a comment

One Classification to Rule Them All?

Posted on February 8, 2011 by

The USPTO and EPO have agreed to create a new Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) based on the IPC. You can read the press releases here and here. The new system will be based largely on ECLA, the European version of the … Continue reading →

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EPO and USPTO Agree to Develop New Patent Classification

Posted on October 26, 2010 by

Yesterday the EPO and USPTO announced that they have agreed to jointly develop a patent classification system based on ECLA and the IPC. The press releases are here and here. Both offices have yet to work out governance and operational … Continue reading →

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Bird Airbags?

Posted on February 26, 2010 by

Last year a large wind farm went up on an island near Kingston, Ontario, where I live. The installation consists of 86 turbines scattered around the island, dozens of which are visible from the city’s waterfront. The decision to build … Continue reading →

Posted in classification, Patent databases, patent searching | 2 Comments

IPC Reforms Aim to Integrate USPTO, EPO and JPO Classifications

Posted on March 27, 2009 by

WIPO just announced a series of reforms that will simplify the IPC. One of the goals is to accelerate the building of a unified IPC system that integrates USPTO, EPO and JPO classifications. Could a true international patent classification system … Continue reading →

Posted in classification, ECLA, IPC, USPC | 1 Comment
Posted on July 5, 2008 by

When I teach people how to conduct a proper search of the patent literature, I always find it challenging to convince them that they need to include older patents in their searches. Most people, especially undergraduate students, are content to … Continue reading →

Posted in classification, Patent references | 1 Comment

Classification Order 1877 – Class 606, Surgery

Posted on June 1, 2008 by

The USPTO has recently published Classification Order #1877 affecting subclasses in Class 606, Surgery. Class 606 is part of a mega-class composed of Classes 128, 600, 601, 602, 604, 606, 607. Class 606 covers surgical instruments. This is the third … Continue reading →

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New USPC Classification Orders

Posted on September 16, 2007 by

The USPTO has recently issued several new classification orders affecting Classes 375 (Pulse or Digital Communications), 386 (Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording or Reproduction) and 525 (Synthetic Resins or Rubbers).

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