IPC System Design

The IPC is a hierarchical system that uses a combination of letters and numbers to classify patents into different categories and subcategories. The system is designed to cover all fields of technology and is constantly updated to keep up with advances in technology.

The IPC has eight sections, each covering a different field of technology, including:

Agriculture

Food chemistry

Chemistry and metallurgy

Textiles and paper

Fixed constructions

Mechanical engineering

Physics

Electricity

Within each section, there are further subdivisions that provide more specific classifications. For example, in the section for mechanical engineering, there are classifications for engines, pumps, bearings, gears, and more.

Searches

The IPC system helps patent examiners and inventors quickly and accurately identify the technical content of a patent or patent application. This can be useful in conducting patent searches, analyzing patent portfolios, and monitoring developments in specific fields of technology.

IPC Uses

Overall, the IPC system plays an important role in the patent system by providing a standardized and organized way to classify patents and patent applications according to their technical content.  IPC provides a common language for patent offices and inventors worldwide. By categorizing inventions into specific classes and subclasses, the IPC facilitates effective searching, examination, and retrieval of patent documents. This classification system promotes uniformity and coherence in the patent landscape, aiding in the understanding and comparison of technologies across different countries. In essence, the IPC is a fundamental tool that enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the patent system on an international scale.

Members

Here is a list of the countries that use the IPC system:

Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Côte d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
European Patent Office (EPO)
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Holy See
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia

While the IPC itself doesn’t directly influence the internal workings of the U.S. patent system, its adoption on an international scale brings about benefits that indirectly impact how the USPTO operates. The IPC fosters a more interconnected, streamlined, and harmonized global patent ecosystem, ultimately benefiting inventors, examiners, and the broader innovation community.