The document summarizes the cooperation between the USPTO and EPO to develop a joint patent classification system called the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system. It outlines the timeline and process for transitioning from their separate classification systems (USPC and ECLA) to the new harmonized CPC system, including developing CPC definitions, quality assurance measures, training, and supporting materials and services. The CPC system is scheduled to be operational at both offices beginning January 1, 2013.

1. LATIPAT
November 5-7, 2012
Medellin (CO)
Citaciones : Formato, Flujo y
Significado
Wistre Rodriguez Del Amo Medellin, 5 November 2012
PD-PG - Information Acquisition
European Patent Office
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2. Project Start-up
• USPTO/EPO
agreed to co-
operate on a joint USPTO and EPO Work Toward Joint Patent Classification System
classification "In view of the significant benefit to stakeholders of developing a transparent and harmonized
system based approach to a global classification system for patent documents; in order to make the search process
initially on the IPC- more effective; and in the belief that cooperation between their two offices will facilitate progress in
undertaking classification harmonization projects under the IP5 Common Hybrid Classification
based ECLA initiative, the USPTO and the EPO have agreed together to work toward the formation of a
(October 2010) partnership to explore the development of a joint classification system based on the European
Classification system (ECLA) that will incorporate the best classification practices of the two offices.
This system would be aligned with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) classification
standards and the International Patent Classification (IPC) structure. Accordingly, they have initiated
• USPTO to move discussions on governance and operational aspects of such a partnership.
from USPC to CPC
The IP5 partner offices will be continually apprised of progress at appropriate IP5 forums.
Stakeholders will receive regular updates on the substance and progress of classification partnership
discussions between the two offices."
• EPO to move from
ECLA to CPC
October 25, 2010
• CPC planned to be
bi-laterally
operational at EPO
and USPTO by
January 2013
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3. CPC scheme
• In one scheme, CPC will include:
– the former ECLA (~140K entries)
– the former ICO (EPO indexing codes)
– the most important KW (EPO controlled keywords)
migrated to ECLA or ICO
– further refinements of the G06Q scheme for
Business Methods so as to incorporate most of
former USPC 705 subdivisions (about 375
subdivisions vs. 50 currently available in ECLA/IPC)
– US special collections and digests
– Y section of ICO (CCMTs and smart grids)
• All-in-all around 250 000 subdivisions
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4. CPC numbering: IPC-like
• The "root" of the hierarchically closest IPC symbol is kept
IPC ECLA CPC
H01L21/027 H01L21/027 H01L21/027
H01L21/027B H01L21/02709
H01L21/027B2 H01L21/02718
H01L21/027B6 H01L21/02727
H01L21/027B6B H01L21/02736
H01L21/027B6B2 H01L21/02745
H01L21/027B6B4 H01L21/02754
H01L21/027B6C H01L21/02763
H01L21/027B6D H01L21/02772
H01L21/027B6E H01L21/02781
H01L21/033 H01L21/033 H01L21/033
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5. Sections A-H
H01L21/285 ...
H01L21/28504 . . . . Origin:
H01L21/28508 . . . .
 IPC
H01L21/28512 . . . .
Classification
(INV/ADD)
...  ECLA
H01L21/28524 . . . .
Main trunk  "mirrored" ICO
H01L21/28528 . . . .
H01L21/28532 . . . .
--------------------
H01L2021/28528 ....
 "further breakdown" ICO
H01L2021/285285 .....
Indexing ...
(ADD) H01L2925/065 ...
2000-series H01L2925/06504 ....  "orthogonal" ICO
H01L2925/06508 .....
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6. Y section
• General tagging of new technological developments;
general tagging of cross-cutting technologies spanning
over several sections of the IPC
– Y02: Climate change mitigation technologies (CCMTs)
– Y04: Smart grids
• Technical subjects covered by former USPC cross-
reference art collections [XRACs] and Digests:
– Y10S

7. CPC scheme statistics ─ 18 Sept 2012
Sections A─H Section Y
Main trunk
(includes former
Invention or Additional information
USPC XRACs
~ 160 500 symbols and digests)
Additional
Information
only
~ 7 500
Indexing codes (2000-series) symbols
(former "further breakdown" and "orthogonal" ICOs; IPC indexing codes)
Additional information only
~ 82 000 symbols

8. CPC Definitions
Understanding the technical coverage of CPC entries
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9. CPC Definitions
• The CPC scheme will be supported by a set of
instructions on how to search and classify in each
specific technical area
• They have been designed along the lines of the IPC
Definitions
• Completed CPC Definitions will (progressively) be
published after 1 October 2012 and will finally cover:
– all subclasses
– all main groups, and
– some subgroups
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10. Quality Assurance (QA)
• Robust QA in place to ensure quality of classification
data and harmonization of classification practice
between the USPTO and EPO
• EPO will continue classifying US documents into the
CPC for a transition period.
• Reclassification of documents following a revision
process will be shared (from 2013 onwards)
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11. Quality Assurance (QA) (2)
• Establish Points of Contact (PoC) per technical area
between EPO-USPTO
• Establish feedback mechanisms:
– "Raise Hand" flags to signal non-compliances
– Sample batches of classification products to
check, e.g. ISO2859 norm
• Check, find non-compliances, correct them, send
feedback to PoC and record findings
• Monitor and analyse data
• Take corrective actions
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12. Training
• E-learning modules for USPTO staff and contractor
• Field-specific training provided by EPO examiners
and recorded
• Extensive use of CPC Definitions
• Examiner visits
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13. CPC timeline
 Develop training  IT implementation at USPTO and  Quality Assurance
EPO process in place
 Document classification
practices (CPC Definitions)  Collaborative environment  CPC used by EPO and
USPTO
 ECLA housekeeping  CPC Scheme launch version
publicly available on 1 Oct 2012  Harmonized
 Design IT classification practices
 DOC-DB back-file converted to
 Design collaborative CPC on 15 Nov 2012  Joint CPC revisions
environment
 Conduct training  CPC available for use
by other IP offices
 Prepare for launch of CPC
Jan 2011 Jan 2012 1 Oct 2012 1 Jan 2013 1 Apr 2013
Start of project CPC launch
discussions version Launch of CPC No more ECLA-to-
between EPO available CPC mapping in
and USPTO 1 Oct 2012 revised areas
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14. 1 October 2012 - CPC package
• CPC scheme in XML and PDF
• Agreed CPC Definitions in XML and PDF
• ECLA-CPC-IPC concordance table
in XML, PDF and TXT
Delivered via www.cpcinfo.org

15. Scheme maintenance prior to 1 Oct 2012
• Removal of outdated text:
– ECLA Reform (ECLA and ICO mirrored schemes)
– IDT, +IDT (old pre-EPO scheme)
– ECLA transfer notes (groups deleted from ECLA)
– EPO internal databases (e.g. RM25)
– CIS, COMBI (now Combination Sets)
• Warnings such as "reclassification in progress" stay
in the scheme until reclassification is completed !
• Some "critical" trademarks have been removed
from titles, e.g. Velcro®

16. Draft CPC Definitions 18 Sept 2012
• A47J
• D01G
• H01M

17. AND THEN?

18. • End of November 2012: Full DOCDB-XML delivery
(ECLA+CPC)
• Early December 2012: Espacenet will switch to full
CPC mode. Classification search not possible in
ECLA anymore
• End 2012: CPC services available:
– CPC-to-ECLA concordance service
– ECLA-to-CPC concordance service
– CPC-to-IPC concordance service
– CPC validity service

19. • 1 January 2013: CPC enters into force
• February 2013: Full DOCDB-XML delivery,
no ECLA data anymore
• From April 2013: First CPC revisions

20. Support for the transition to CPC
• CPC Definitions
• E-learning modules (cooperation European Patent
Academy)
• Events: EPO Patent Information Conference
6-8 November 2012, Hamburg, Germany
• Etc ...

21. Thank you for your attention!
For more CPC info, regularly visit:
http://www.cpcinfo.orgpheld@epo.org
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