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4.2.3.6 Presentation of Classification Symbols and Indexing Codes on Patent Documents

Date Published

The order of classification symbols and indexing codes is as follows:

  1. Classification symbols representing invention information, of which that symbol which most adequately represents the invention should be listed first.
  2. Classification symbols representing additional information.
  3. Indexing codes.


Classification symbols and indexing codes are presented in tabular form in one or more columns, with only one symbol or code on each line.

The recommended abbreviation of the International Patent Classification is “Int.Cl.”. The current version indicator of the IPC (year, month) has to be placed in round brackets after the abbreviation “Int.Cl.”, if the document is classified, at least partly, in main groups only.

The recommended presentation of classification symbols in printed or formatted display form is as follows:

  • classification symbols are presented in a tabular form, in such a manner as to facilitate machine transcription;
  • when classifying in main groups only, IPC symbols are printed or displayed in regular font style, and when classifying in the full IPC, IPC symbols are printed or displayed in italics; and
  • the invention information symbols are printed or displayed in bold font style and the additional information symbols in regular.
  • when classifying in the full IPC, the version indicator for each IPC symbol, as indicated in paragraph 158 of the Guide to the IPC (year, month), is placed in round brackets after each IPC symbol.


Sample representations of IPC classification symbols and indicators are given below for the same document when classified in the full IPC, in main groups only or both in the full IPC and in main groups.


a) When classified in the full IPC:

Int. Cl. B28B 5/00 (2006.01) H04H 20/12 (2008.01) H01H 33/65 (2009.01)

Where:

B28B 5/00

indicates invention information (bold font style) classified in the full IPC (italics font style);


H04H 20/12

indicates invention information (bold font style) classified in the full IPC (italics font style);


H01H 33/65

indicates additional information (regular font style, i.e., non-bold) classified in the full IPC (italics font style).

b) When classified in main groups only:

Int. Cl. (2011.01) B28B 5/00 H04H 20/00 H01H 33/00

Where:

B28B 5/00

indicates invention information (bold font style) classified in main groups only (regular font style, i.e., non-italics);


H04H 20/00

indicates invention information (bold font style) classified in main groups only (regular font style, i.e., non-italics);


H01H 33/00

indicates additional information (regular font style, i.e., non-bold) classified in main groups only (regular font style, i.e., non-italics).

c) When invention information is classified in the full IPC and additional information in main groups only:

Int. Cl. (2011.01) B28B 5/00 (2006.01) H04H 20/12 (2008.01) H01H 33/00

Where:

B28B 5/00

indicates invention information (bold font style) classified in the full IPC (italics font style);


H04H 20/12

indicates invention information (bold font style) classified in the full IPC (italics font style);


H01H 33/00

indicates additional information (regular font style, i.e., non-bold) classified in main groups only (regular font style, i.e., non-italics).​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

IPC symbols are defined in the latest version of the Guide to the IPC.

This presentation is effective beginning with the January 1, 2011, version of the IPC.

Amended Reasons

Amended Reason Date Amended
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