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.
Harmonized subclasses in the U.S. Patent Classification System (USPC) are subclasses that have been aligned with corresponding subclasses from the European Patent Office (EPO) and/or the Japan Patent Office (JPO). The MPEP states:
“The U.S. Patent Classification System (USPC) includes subclasses that have been harmonized with subclasses from the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO).”
This harmonization aims to create a more standardized classification system across these major patent offices, facilitating easier patent searches and comparisons across jurisdictions.