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)
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) 80,000 67,634 66,312 64,191 70,000 58,096 55,467 60,000 51,428 Number of Groups 47,263 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 IPC 1 IPC 2 IPC 3 IPC 4 IPC 5 IPC 6 IPC 7 IPC Editions
IPC Growth for some rapidly developing technologies 2,500 Biotechnology Computers 2,000 1966 Medicine Number of Groups 1,500 1,418 1,298 1,000 957 839 779 718 706 712 632 602 517 500 476 453 451 374 353 296 297 107 107 0 IPC 1 IPC 2 IPC 3 IPC 4 IPC 5 IPC 6 IPC 7 IPC Editions 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 only to the core level or to the complete text of the Classification the Classification – only t only 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
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
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