What is the scope of a class in the United States Patent Classification (USPC) system?
The scope of a class in the USPC system encompasses various types of subject matter and their combinations. According to MPEP 903.02(b), the main types of subject matter include:
- Manufacture
- Art
- Apparatus
- Stock material
The MPEP states: “In using any classification system, it is necessary to analyze the organization of the class or classes to be included in the search. The initial analysis should determine which one or ones of the several types of subject matter (manufacture, art, apparatus, or stock material) are contained in the class being considered.”
Additionally, each type of subject matter can be further analyzed in terms of combinations and subcombinations, such as basic subject matter, perfecting features, and subcombinations of general utility.
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