Patent classification
Encyclopedia
A patent classification is a way the examiners of patent office
s or other people arrange documents, such as patent application
s, disclosing invention
s according to the technical features of the inventions. They arrange documents using a patent classification so that they can quickly find a document disclosing the invention identical or similar to the invention for which a patent
is claimed. The same document may be classified in several classes.
A patent classification is fixed under an agreement among people, otherwise it is useless. The International Patent Classification
(IPC) is agreed internationally. The United States Patent Classification
(USPC) is fixed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO). The European Classification
(ECLA) is based on the IPC but adapted by the European Patent Office
(EPO) to its own requirements. The Derwent classification system
is fixed by an enterprise.
In October 2010, the EPO and USPTO launched a joint project to create the Cooperation Patent Classification (CPC) in order to harmonise the patent classifications systems between the two offices.
Patent office
A patent office is a governmental or intergovernmental organization which controls the issue of patents. In other words, "patent offices are government bodies that may grant a patent or reject the patent application based on whether or not the application fulfils the requirements for...
s or other people arrange documents, such as patent application
Patent application
A patent application is a request pending at a patent office for the grant of a patent for the invention described and claimed by that application. An application consists of a description of the invention , together with official forms and correspondence relating to the application...
s, disclosing invention
Invention
An invention is a novel composition, device, or process. An invention may be derived from a pre-existing model or idea, or it could be independently conceived, in which case it may be a radical breakthrough. In addition, there is cultural invention, which is an innovative set of useful social...
s according to the technical features of the inventions. They arrange documents using a patent classification so that they can quickly find a document disclosing the invention identical or similar to the invention for which a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
is claimed. The same document may be classified in several classes.
A patent classification is fixed under an agreement among people, otherwise it is useless. The International Patent Classification
International Patent Classification
The International Patent Classification is a hierarchical patent classification system created under the Strasbourg Agreement and updated on a regular basis by a Committee of Experts, consisting of representatives of the Contracting States of that Agreement with observers from other...
(IPC) is agreed internationally. The United States Patent Classification
United States Patent Classification
The United States Patent Classification is an official patent classification system used and maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office .- Overview :...
(USPC) is fixed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
(USPTO). The European Classification
European Classification
The European Classification is a patent classification system maintained by the European Patent Office . The ECLA classification system contains 134 000 subdivisions. It is mainly an extension of the International Patent Classification system, but sometimes modifies its titles and rules...
(ECLA) is based on the IPC but adapted by the European Patent Office
European Patent Office
The European Patent Office is one of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation , the other being the Administrative Council. The EPO acts as executive body for the Organisation while the Administrative Council acts as its supervisory body as well as, to a limited extent, its legislative...
(EPO) to its own requirements. The Derwent classification system
Derwent World Patents Index
The Derwent World Patents Index is a database containing patent applications and grants from 44 of the world's patent issuing authorities....
is fixed by an enterprise.
In October 2010, the EPO and USPTO launched a joint project to create the Cooperation Patent Classification (CPC) in order to harmonise the patent classifications systems between the two offices.
See also
- European Convention on the International Classification of Patents for InventionEuropean Convention on the International Classification of Patents for InventionThe European Convention on the International Classification of Patents for Invention was signed on December 19, 1954 in Paris, France by members of the Council of Europe. It entered into force on August 1, 1955 and it was denounced by all Parties and ceased to be in force as from February 18, 1999....
External links
- Patent classification by the British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
(archived page) - Cooperation Patent Classification (CPC)