How are Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) symbols applied to patent documents?

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.

Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) symbols are applied to patent documents based on the inventive concepts in the disclosure, rather than solely on the claimed subject matter. The MPEP 1302.10 explains:

These symbols are based on the inventive concepts in the disclosure, rather than solely based on the claimed subject matter.

This approach ensures a comprehensive classification that captures the full scope of the invention, potentially including aspects not explicitly claimed but present in the disclosure. It’s important to note that this may result in classification symbols that were not part of the examiner’s original search.