What is the current status of the USPC for utility patents?
The U.S. Patent Classification System (USPC) for utility patents has undergone significant changes. According to MPEP 902:
“The USPC is now a static searchable database for all utility areas.”
This means that while the USPC is no longer used for classifying new utility patents, it remains a valuable resource for searching and researching older patents. Patent examiners, attorneys, and inventors can still use the USPC to access historical patent information and conduct prior art searches for utility patents issued before the transition to the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system.
To learn more: