Who manages and maintains the CPC system?

The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system is jointly managed and maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). According to MPEP 905:

“CPC is jointly managed and maintained by both offices and is available for public search for classification.”

This collaborative approach ensures that the classification system remains up-to-date and reflects the needs of both patent offices, providing a comprehensive and harmonized classification framework for patent documents.

To learn more:

• CPC management
• USPTO
• EPO
• patent classification maintenance