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FAQ
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Questions
- Is there an IPC website?
- Is there an IPC reform website?
- Who is responsible for the IPC and the IPC reform?
- What are the main features of the IPC reform?
- When did the IPC reform enter into force?
- What were the changes for the patent information end-user?
- Why is the IPC divided into core and advanced levels?
- What happens when the advanced level is revised? Do users have to update their search profiles every three months?
- The reformed IPC has two levels, core and advanced. Which one is best for searching?
- Does the classification philosophy ever change?
- How will old "backfile" data be handled?
- If a document was published under an earlier IPC edition (1 to 7) and there was no change in the scheme, will its new, reformed IPC be identical to its old IPC?
- Whenever the IPC is revised, how can users be sure that all documents have been reclassified in time in accordance with the new classification scheme?
- Have the old IPC1 to 7 classifications be overwritten by IPC8 classifications?
- Are the classes in IPC8 very different from the classes in earlier IPC editions (1 to 7)?
- Can users still use ECLA, or will it be replaced by the reformed IPC?
- What are "classification definitions"?
- How do documents classified according to the advanced level get their corresponding core level code?
- When a document has an advanced level classification, does the automatically generated Core level IPC appear on printed documents as well?
- Patent offices had different views and practices on IPC classification. How are these differences minimised in the reformed IPC?
- How does the family propagation of IPC classifications work?
- Is there a contact point for further questions?
Answers
Yes: http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ipc/en/
Is there an IPC reform website?
Detailed information about the IPC reform is available on the WIPO website at: http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ipc/en/reform/index.html
Who is responsible for the IPC and the IPC reform?
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based in Geneva is responsible for the IPC and the IPC reform. In this area, WIPO works closely with the EPO, the USPTO and the JPO, as well as other patent offices around the world.
What are the main features of the IPC reform?
The key features of the new IPC are ... more
When did the IPC reform enter into force?
1 January 2006.
What were the changes for the patent information end-user?
Almost every patent information product was affected, including ... more
Why is the IPC divided into core and advanced levels?
Experience with the IPC showed that for some users ... more
What happens when the advanced level is revised? Do users have to update their search profiles every three months?
WIPO publishes all IPC changes three months in advance ... more
The reformed IPC has two levels, core and advanced. Which one is best for searching?
For international searches, ie searches aimed at retrieving prior art ... more
Does the classification philosophy ever change?
In the past, classifiers focussed on the claims of a patent document ... more
How will old "backfile" data be handled?
As of 1 January 2006, all intellectual property offices are obliged ... more
If a document was published under an earlier IPC edition (1 to 7) and there was no change in the scheme, will its new, reformed IPC be identical to its old IPC?
Not necessarily. The reformed IPC classifications for documents published ... more
Whenever the IPC is revised, how can users be sure that all documents have been reclassified in time in accordance with the new classification scheme?
Changes to the classification scheme are not introduced until all documents have been reclassified.
Have the old IPC1 to 7 classifications be overwritten by IPC8 classifications?
The “old” IPC (editions 1-7) classifications allocated to documents will be kept, in a separate field in most databases, so that users can search them independently of the “new” IPC symbols.
Are the classes in IPC8 very different from the classes in earlier IPC editions (1 to 7)?
WIPO publishes the text of the reformed IPC edition 8 ("IPC 2006") ... more
Can users still use ECLA, or will it be replaced by the reformed IPC?
ECLA continues to exist as the EPO’s internal classification system. Although concordance between IPC and ECLA will be improved with the reformed IPC, it will remain an independent classification system in most technical fields.
What are "classification definitions"?
The titles of IPC groups sometimes leave room for interpretation ... more
How do documents classified according to the advanced level get their corresponding core level code?
All documents (including the ones classified in the advanced level) must have a core level classification. However these is not given by the offices ... more
When a document has an advanced level classification, does the automatically generated Core level IPC appear on printed documents as well?
It does not appear on the printed documents. It is only present in the MCD and on the EPO's data exchange products.
Patent offices had different views and practices on IPC classification. How are these differences minimised in the reformed IPC?
With the introduction of IPC definitions, the intended coverage of IPC classification places is much clearer and leave less room for interpretation ... more
How does the family propagation of IPC classifications work?
The goal of the reformed IPC is to provide a single classification that can be used for searching the whole document collection. This requires reclassification of documents in two cases: ... more
Is there a contact point for further questions?Further information can be found on the WIPO website.
If you have any questions about the IPC reform, especially if are concerned about how it will affect the products you use, then please write to us at infowien@epo.org.