LibGuides: Patents: Classifications, Codes, Etc.

Classifications, Codes, Glossary

Patent classification is used to classify or organize patents based on their features. A patent document usually has at least one or more patent classifications assigned to the document. Use the classifications to expand your search. Below are some patent classifications.

Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
- About Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) (information from European Patent Office)
  - Jointly managed by United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and European Patent Office (EPO)
- Classification Search
  - Search the CPC Classification (from Espacenet)

International Patent Classification (IPC)
- About International Patent Classification (IPC) System
  - IPC "provides for a hierarchical system of language independent symbols for the classification of patents and utility models according to the different areas of technology to which they pertain." [World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)]
- International Patent Classification (IPC) : Green Inventory
  - This inventory was developed 'in order to facilitate searches for patent information relating to so-called Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), as listed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).'
- International Patent Classification (IPC) : IPCCAT
  - "Tool to assist text categorization in the IPC... It is mainly designed to help to classify patents at IPC class, subclass or main group level." Provided by WIPO

Locarno Classification (LOC) [for Industrial Designs]
- Locarno classification is used for classifying goods for the purposes of registrations of industrial designs. Provided by WIPO.
United States Patent Classification (USPC)
- From United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- From 2015, USPTO no longer actively assign USPC to utility patents. Plant and design patents will continue to be published with USPC symbols
- Index to the United States Patent Classification (USPC) Search (browse and search the index for relevant patents)
- Seven Step Strategy [using Patent Classification] (USPTO) - to conduct preliminary searches of U.S. patents and published applications

Ever wondered what do the codes mean in a patent document? For example :

Country Codes - Abbreviations used to identify countries

Kind Codes - Used to distinguish different types of patent documents

INID Codes - Refers to the "Internationally agreed Number for the Identification of (bibliographic) Data"
(For easy identification of bibliographic information, useful when the document is in a foreign language. For example, the INID code for inventor is "72")

Country Codes

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
World Intellectual Patent Organization (WIPO)

Kind Codes

Chemical Abstracts Services (CAS) - Patent Kind Codes for CAS Basic and Patent Family Members
European Patent Office (EPO) - Gives basic definitions
Patsnap
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - Note: there are changes to the codes for patents published beginning 2 January 2001 onwards
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - See also Please WIPO Standard ST.16 for additional information

INID Codes

United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - The INID codes are found in Appendix 1 of Standard 9 "Recommendation concerning bibliographic data on and relating to patents and SPCS".

Below are listing of terms used on the websites or in databases as well as other useful information e.g. patent families.

Glossary

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - A-Z definitions of intellectual property terminology
European Patent Office (EPO)
IP Glossary (Patsnap)
PCT Glossary (World Intellectual Property Organization) - Terms used "in understanding the PCT and drafting or translating PCT documentation"

Patent Families