What are Notes in CPC schemes and how are they used?
Notes in CPC schemes are supplementary statements that provide additional information or clarification for classification places. According to the MPEP, “Notes are supplementary statements that follow a CPC class, subclass, main group, or subgroup title. Instruction in a “Note” is applied only to the CPC place where it appears, including all its hierarchically lower places.“
Notes serve several purposes in CPC schemes:
- Explain the scope of a classification place
- Define terminology used in the classification
- Indicate specific classification rules
The hierarchical application of notes is important to understand. For example, a note after a class title applies to the entire class, while a note after a subgroup applies only to that subgroup and its lower hierarchical places.
To learn more: