Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based)BlueIron Update: 2024-09-27
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system is organized into nine main sections, each covering broad technological areas. As stated in MPEP 905.03(a), “The CPC is a detailed classification system, containing about 250,000 classification symbols, and is divided into nine sections.” These sections are:
- A: Human Necessities
- B: Performing Operations; Transporting
- C: Chemistry; Metallurgy
- D: Textiles; Paper
- E: Fixed Constructions
- F: Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating; Weapons; Blasting
- G: Physics
- H: Electricity
- Y: General Tagging of New Technological Developments
Each section is further divided into classes, subclasses, groups, and subgroups, allowing for increasingly specific classification of patent documents.