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. A new version of the IPC enters into force each year on January 1. Find out more about the IPC.
Resources
- General information on the IPC
- Guide to the IPC
- IPC statistics
- Frequently Asked Questions