SLIDE 1 BASIC FACTS ABOUT IPC REFORM
- M. MAKAROV (WIPO)
- M. MAKAROV (WIPO)
History of the IPC
N Alphabetical lists of patents (France, 1771)
Alphabetical lists of patents (France, 1771)
N Classification systems (USA, 1872)
Classification systems (USA, 1872)
N European Classification (1968)
European Classification (1968)
N Strasbourg Agreement (1971)
Strasbourg Agreement (1971)
SLIDE 2 IPC Revision
N New edition every 5 years
New edition every 5 years
N International revision procedure under the
International revision procedure under the administration by WIPO administration by WIPO
N The seventh edition entered into force on
The seventh edition entered into force on January 1, 2000 January 1, 2000
IPC Growth
(classification groups)
47,263 51,428 55,467 58,096 64,191 66,312 67,634 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 Number of Groups IPC 1 IPC 2 IPC 3 IPC 4 IPC 5 IPC 6 IPC 7 IPC Editions
SLIDE 3 IPC Growth for some rapidly developing technologies
107 107 297 374 517 706 296 353 451 476 602 632 453 779 839 957 1,298 1,418 1966 712 718
500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500
IPC 1 IPC 2 IPC 3 IPC 4 IPC 5 IPC 6 IPC 7
IPC Editions Number of Groups Biotechnology Computers Medicine
Purposes of the IPC
N Primary purpose: effective search tool for
Primary purpose: effective search tool for the retrieval of patent information the retrieval of patent information
N Other purposes:
Other purposes:
– selective dissemination of information selective dissemination of information – investigation of the state of the art investigation of the state of the art – preparation of industrial property statistics preparation of industrial property statistics
SLIDE 4
Statistical Studies and the IPC
N Global statistical studies - use of high level
Global statistical studies - use of high level IPC entries (sections, classes) IPC entries (sections, classes)
N Technology trends studies - use of low level
Technology trends studies - use of low level IPC entries (subclasses, groups) IPC entries (subclasses, groups)
IPC Advanced Seminar
(December 1998)
Conclusions
N IPC retains its value as the only world-wide
IPC retains its value as the only world-wide patent classification patent classification
N Methods of revision and use of the IPC
Methods of revision and use of the IPC should be radically changed should be radically changed
N IPC should become a tool for searching
IPC should become a tool for searching electronic information electronic information
SLIDE 5
Launch of the reform
N In March 1999 the IPC Committee of
In March 1999 the IPC Committee of Experts decides to start reform of the Experts decides to start reform of the Classification Classification
N In September 1999 the Assembly of the IPC
In September 1999 the Assembly of the IPC Union confirms this decision Union confirms this decision
N In March 2000 the strategic plan for the
In March 2000 the strategic plan for the development of the IPC is approved development of the IPC is approved
Principal goals of the reform
N Division of the IPC into the core and the
Division of the IPC into the core and the advanced levels advanced levels
N Creation of the Master Classification
Creation of the Master Classification Database Database
N Introduction in the IPC of electronic
Introduction in the IPC of electronic information facilitating classification and information facilitating classification and search search
SLIDE 6
Core and advanced levels
N May be used on the choice of patent offices
May be used on the choice of patent offices
N Are fully compatible
Are fully compatible
N Revised according to different procedures
Revised according to different procedures
Core level
N Volume - 20, 000 groups (main groups and,
Volume - 20, 000 groups (main groups and, in some fields, subgroups) in some fields, subgroups)
N Use - search in small national patent files,
Use - search in small national patent files, dissemination of patent information dissemination of patent information
N Revision according to the traditional
Revision according to the traditional procedure procedure
N Revision cycle - three years
Revision cycle - three years
SLIDE 7
Advanced level
N Initial volume in 2005 - 70, 000 subgroups
Initial volume in 2005 - 70, 000 subgroups
N Use - search in international patent files
Use - search in international patent files (PCT minimum documentation) (PCT minimum documentation)
N Revision by a Special Subcommittee
Revision by a Special Subcommittee according to an accelerated procedure according to an accelerated procedure
N Continuous revision
Continuous revision
N Rapid accommodation of developments in
Rapid accommodation of developments in technology technology
Master Classification Database
N Classification data of the world-wide patent
Classification data of the world-wide patent collections collections
N Complete information at the core level as a
Complete information at the core level as a result of the rolling-up of classification result of the rolling-up of classification symbols of the advanced level symbols of the advanced level
N Continuous reclassification at the advanced
Continuous reclassification at the advanced level level
N Links to full text databases
Links to full text databases
SLIDE 8
Access to the Master Classification Database
N Via the Internet
Via the Internet
N Via EPO databases
Via EPO databases
N Copies of the Master Classification
Copies of the Master Classification Database may be delivered to interested Database may be delivered to interested patent offices patent offices
Electronic information in the reformed IPC
N Classification definitions
Classification definitions
N Chemical formulae; drawings
Chemical formulae; drawings
N Informative references
Informative references
N Standardized sequence of main groups
Standardized sequence of main groups
N Definitions of technical terms
Definitions of technical terms
SLIDE 9 Some changes in the classification practice resulting from the reform
N New way of recording of classification
New way of recording of classification symbols on the front page of patent symbols on the front page of patent documents documents
N New standard for electronic recording of
New standard for electronic recording of classification symbols classification symbols
N Delivery of reclassification data to the
Delivery of reclassification data to the Master Classification Database Master Classification Database
Future publications of the IPC
N Printed publication - only the core level
Printed publication - only the core level
N Internet publication - on the user’s choice,
Internet publication - on the user’s choice, access will be possible: access will be possible:
– only to the core level or to the complete text of
- nly to the core level or to the complete text of
the Classification the Classification – only t
- nly t? the official text or with the inclusion of
the official text or with the inclusion of electronic information electronic information
N The reformed IPC will enter into force on January
The reformed IPC will enter into force on January 1, 2005 1, 2005
SLIDE 10
User’s help
N Computer-assisted classification (at the core
Computer-assisted classification (at the core level) level)
N Computer-assisted translation of
Computer-assisted translation of classification texts classification texts
N Search for relevant classification symbols in
Search for relevant classification symbols in the natural language the natural language
Strategic goal of the reform - creation of the common universal search tool for all industrial property offices and the public
