• Introduction
• Overview
• IPC Searching on STN
• STN SDIs
• IPC Codes and STN Databases

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IPC Reform and STN

Introduction

The World Intellectual Property Organization's International Patent Classification (IPC) Reform (version 8) went into effect on January 1, 2006 for patent-issuing authorities which use IPC codes. IPC Reform codes, or commonly referred to as IPC 8 codes or post-Reform codes, is intended to enhance search and retrieval efforts and efficiency through this new standard classification index.

New patent records issued after this date are expected to have new IPC codes which will be included in STN patent databases. In addition, the European Patent Office is in the process of reclassifying as many as 53 million existing patents to conform to the IPC reform.

Important changes have been implemented in the STN product line, including STN AnaVist, to accommodate the International Patent Classification (IPC) Reform. The changes ensure continued access to IPC data in STN products and make it easier for you to benefit from IPC data while searching.

The links above and below provide the most current IPC Reform information regarding STN databases.

• Overview of IPC Reform Impacts on STN
• Using STN Databases for IPC Searching
• IPC and STN SDIs
• IPC Codes and STN Databases Reference Table

Additional Resources

Additional information regarding IPC reform from our partner, FIZ Karlsruhe, and other helpful resources include:

• IPC Reform Information which provides information for patent searching on STN (courtesy FIZ-Karlsruhe)
• IPC Reform and STN (presentation on features of the IPC Reform and implications on STN patent databases - ~700K PDF file)
• WIPO International Patent Classification
• European Patent Office IPC Reform web site
• Patent Coverage in Chemical Abstracts