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IPC (International Patent Classification)
The IPC (International Patent Classification) is one of the most important tools available to people who want to search patent databases. It divides the world of technology up into over 70 000 categories. Whatever your technical field, you can use the IPC to zoom in to patent documents relevant to your field of work.
The IPC is a hierarchical system, with layers of increasing detail. Here is an example:
G Physics
G02 Optics
G02C Spectacles,
sunglasses or goggles ...
G02C5 Construction
of non-optical parts
G02C5/14 . Side
members
G02C5/20 ..
Adjustable, telescopic
A major reform of the IPC entered into force on 1 January 2006. The main features of the new IPC are:
- A stable core and a dynamic advanced level - the IPC now has a relatively stable subset of about 20 000 entries, known as the core level; in addition to this, the dynamic advanced level covers the entire set of entries in the IPC. This advanced level is continuously updated.
- Reclassification of older documents: whenever the IPC is changed, older documents published under an earlier version are reclassified. In other words, you can search all the documents in patent databases by using the symbols of the latest IPC version.
- Additional definitions - the US Patent Classification system, for example, has extensive sets of definitions. Similar definitions are being developed for the IPC. In the areas where they are ready, they are made available to the public in the electronic layer of the new IPC.
Administration
WIPO is in charge of the administration of the IPC classification schemes. The text of the latest version of the IPC, including definitions, where available can be found on the WIPO website .
All documents classified according to the IPC are stored in a Master Classification Database (MCD), managed by the EPO. This database supplies the IPC data for, among others, esp@cenet.