The inventories of the Y tags are updated by running search algorithms designed by expert examiners and relying on other CPC symbols, IPC symbols and keywords.
On 01 January 2013, the EPO and USPTO jointly launched the
Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC), replacing the European Patent
Classification (ECLA) and other codes that were used in the search algorithms
to allocate the Y02 and Y04S tags. Due
to the CPC and related IT changes, the search algorithms and associated update
processes have been revised. These
changes will also allow us to update the Y-codes with a higher frequency in
the future.
The current update status is as follows:
| Section | Status |
|---|---|
| Y02A (Adaptation to climate change) | December 2021 |
| Y02B (Buildings) | December 2021 |
| Y02C (Capture and storage of greenhouse gases) | December 2021 |
| Y02D (ICT aiming at the reduction of own energy use) | December 2021 |
| Y02E (Production, distribution and transport of energy) | December 2021 |
| Y02P (Industry and agriculture) | December 2021 |
| Y02T (Transportation) | December 2021 |
| Y02W (Waste and wastewater) | December 2021 |
| Y04S (Smart grids) | December 2021 |
