What is the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)?
The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) is a bilateral classification system jointly developed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). As stated in MPEP 905: “Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) is a bilateral classification system jointly developed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European…
Read MoreWhat classification system is used for utility patents and applications?
Utility patents, applications, and patent application publications are classified under the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system. As stated in MPEP 903: “Utility patents, applications, and patent application publications receive a classification designation under the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system.” The CPC system is a joint classification system developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and…
Read MoreWhen did the USPTO switch from USPC to CPC for utility applications?
The USPTO transitioned from the U.S. Patent Classification System (USPC) to the Cooperative Patent Classification System (CPC) for utility applications on January 1, 2013. As stated in MPEP 902: “As of January 1, 2013, the USPTO moved from using the USPC system to the CPC system for classification of pending utility applications.” This change marked…
Read MoreWhat information is available on the USPTO Classification Home Page?
The USPTO Classification Home Page provides a wealth of information for both examiners and the public. According to MPEP 902.03(b), the site includes: Index, schedules, and definitions Links to international information (CPC schedules, IPC Concordance, IPC Schedules, IPC Catchword Index) WIPO Handbook on Industrial Property Information and Documentation National (U.S.) information (Overview of the Classification…
Read MoreAre U.S. utility patents still classified under the USPC system?
No, U.S. utility patents published after December 31, 2014, are no longer classified under the U.S. Patent Classification System (USPC). According to MPEP 902: “All U.S. utility patents and U.S. utility Patent Application Publications published after December 31, 2014 no longer receive classifications within the USPC. The USPC is now a static searchable database for…
Read MoreWhat are the two types of technical information classified in CPC?
According to MPEP 905.03(a), patent documents contain two types of technical information to classify in the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system: Invention information: This is mandatory to classify and represents an addition to the state of the art. Additional information: This is discretionary and complements the invention information without necessarily representing an addition to the…
Read MoreWhat are the types of guidance headings in CPC schemes?
The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) scheme utilizes various types of guidance headings to organize patent information. According to MPEP 905.01(a)(4), there are three main types of guidance headings: Common Subject Matter Indicators: “When a large part of a subclass relates to a common subject matter, a guidance heading indicating that subject matter may be provided…
Read MoreWhat are the steps for identifying appropriate groups for classification in CPC?
The MPEP 905.03(b) outlines the general procedure for identifying appropriate groups for classification in the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system: Identify appropriate subclasses: Review subclass titles for scope coverage Consult subclass notes, references, and definitions Repeat until a suitable subclass is verified Identify appropriate group(s): Identify candidate main groups Verify notes, references, and definitions don’t…
Read MoreWhat are references within CPC titles?
References within CPC (Cooperative Patent Classification) titles are statements enclosed in parentheses that point to other classification places of interest. As stated in MPEP 905.01(a)(1): “References are statements enclosed within parentheses in titles. The references point to other classification places that may be of interest.” These references apply to the classification place where they appear…
Read MoreWhat is the purpose of the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system in patent examination?
The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system serves a crucial purpose in patent examination. According to MPEP 909.01(a): “The CPC system is a classification system jointly developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the USPTO. The CPC system is based on the International Patent Classification (IPC) system and incorporates additional subdivisions to provide more detailed…
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