What classification system is used for U.S. utility patents published after December 31, 2014?
According to the MPEP 902.03, U.S. utility patents and U.S. utility patent application publications published after December 31, 2014, do not receive a designated U.S. patent classification. The manual states:
“U.S. utility patents and U.S. utility patent application publications published after December 31, 2014, do not receive a designated U.S. patent classification.”
This change reflects a shift in the classification system used by the USPTO for utility patents. However, it’s important to note that U.S. design and plant patents, as well as U.S. plant patent application publications, still receive a designated U.S. patent classification.
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