EPO and USPTO unveil new classification system

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

EPO and USPTO unveil new classification system

The EPO and USPTO have launched a new patent classification system, called the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC), as part of efforts to harmonise patent procedures globally

The CPC is effective for both offices from January 2 as a means of classifying technical documents, notably patent publications. It replaces the previous separate systems (known as ECLA and USPC).

The new system is based on the ECLA and comprises some 250,000 symbols. Definitions for every CPC sub-class will be regularly updated.

The CPC has been developed by staff from both offices, including examiners, over the past two years.

EPO President Benoît Battistelli told Managing IP that the work at the EPO involved the equivalent of 150 full-time examiners and the Office has spent €12 million on IT modifications. It has also updated about 10% of all its documents.

The CPC is compatible with the International Patent Classification (IPC) system, used by WIPO and many other patent offices. But it is much more precise, with many more categories.

Classification harmonisation was one of 10 foundation projects agreed by the IP5 offices (EPO, JPO, KIPO, SIPO and USPTO) in 2007.

Battistelli said he was optimistic that KIPO and SIPO would adopt the CPC and it would soon become a global standard. The JPO has its own comprehensive classification system.

He added that improved access to information would benefit users and examiners: “The quality of patents will certainly improve.”

CPC promotional and training events are listed on the CPC website.

Managing IP’s February issue will include in-depth interviews on the CPC with Battistelli and USPTO Director David Kappos

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Deals between five more law firms and President Trump and an antitrust lawsuit against Amgen were also among the top talking points this week
US counsel explain how they win new cleantech IP business and how they’re navigating the industry’s challenges
Leaders at the IP firms, which have joined forces with backing from a PE investor, share their vision of building the number one pan-European IP practice
Firms will steer clients towards other ways of getting quicker examinations, but fear the ramifications of the USPTO’s decision
Melissa Haapala added that returning to client advocacy and the chance to work on patent litigation were reasons for returning to private practice
Michelle Clark, who has a generalist litigation background, plans to focus on IP disputes at Alston & Bird
Philips and Vivo have entered into a licensing agreement, putting an end to a five-year-old telecom SEP dispute in India
Stefan Müller discusses managing deadlines, the importance of reflection, and why IP is more than just a 'nice to have'
The three founders of the IP firm’s new US offering say they plan to offer a unique proposition in a market fixated by the billable hour
The opinion provides useful guidance when it comes to how courts might consider contributory infringement, DMCA claims, and other issues in AI copyright cases
Gift this article