International Patent Classification (IPC)

The International Patent Classification (IPC), established by the Strasbourg Agreement 1971, provides for a hierarchical system of language independent symbols for the classification of patents and utility models according to the different areas of technology to which they pertain.

 In the course of 2010, a number of simplifications will be introduced in the IPC. The division between the core and advanced levels will be removed and only one text of the IPC will be published, corresponding to the current advanced level. Offices classifying using the core level will use the main groups of the IPC instead. New versions of the IPC will be published in principle once a year. The procedure for revision of the IPC will also be simplified. A new publication platform integrating these changes will be introduced.

These changes will enter into force on January 1, 2011, and are available for consultation using the new platform. For more information, please consult the link to IPC simplification. The WIPO IPC website will be gradually updated during the first half of 2010 in order to comply with these simplifications.