The Common Hybrid Classification project of the Pierre Held Directorate Classification ( ) IPC Workshop, 8-9 February 2010, WIPO, Geneva

The past (and still present...): Trilateral Harmony Project Different classification schemes... in selected areas ECLAFI USPC. EPtext1. JPtext1. UStext1.. EPtext2.. JPtext2. UStext2.. EPtext3.. JPtext3. UStext3... JPtext4

Trilateral Harmony project... are merged and modifications discussed HARMONY. JPtext1. UStext1.. New text1.. EPtext2... New text2.. JPtext3

ECLA. JPtext1. UStext1.. New text1.. EPtext2... New text2.. JPtext3 Trilateral Harmony project Result: 3 separate but identical schemes FI. JPtext1. UStext1.. New text1.. EPtext2... New text2.. JPtext3 USPC. JPtext1. UStext1.. New text1.. EPtext2... New text2.. JPtext3

ECLA USPC FI-FT Core level 20k Reformed IPC Advanced level 20k + 50k Advanced level extension 20k + 50k + 70k Integrate common scheme in the IPC HARMONYHARMONY

SUMMARY: Trilateral Harmony Project Goal: identical (similar) schemes in JP, EP, US in selected fields Method: bring examiners together (virtual or physical) first discuss & develop common scheme => ECLA, FI, USPC then forward to IPC Contact, understanding, cooperation New schemes highly match examiners' needs Very successful Limited in scope, "Harmony islands", needs a lot of time resources No new trilateral projects started! Completion planned by the end of 2011

The Future (and a bit already present...): Common Hybrid Classification Foundation Project

The fiveIPoffices: European Patent Office (EPO) Japan Patent Office (JPO) Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO) US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) The IP5 offices

History: The IP5 Heads of Office met in Jeju, Korea in October 2008 where they cemented a vision and agreed a roadmap. "The elimination of unnecessary duplication of work among the IP5 offices, the enhancement of patent examination efficiency and quality and guarantee of the stability of patent right "

What are the conditions for reutilisation of others' work: –Timeliness: Results available on time – Quality: High quality of work essential

Presidents' agreement: 10 Foundation Projects Project Common documentation EPO-led Common hybrid classification EPO-led Sharing and documenting search strategies USPTO-led Common search and examination support tools USPTO-led Common access to search and examination results JPO-led Common application format JPO-led Common training policy KIPO-led Mutual machine translation KIPO-led Common rules for examination practice and quality control SIPO-led Common statistical parameter system for examination SIPO-led

IP5 Governance

"Why bother? The EPO has ECLA"... but: Many documents don't have ECLA! SS Results LIM A63B/IC NOT EC=YES AND JP/PN AND CN/PN AND KR/PN AND TW/PN AND AU/PN AND ES/PN AND RU/PN AND SU/PN => Need to use the IPC for retrieving prior art!

The non-ECLA part is growing: => Need to improve IPC!

Common Hybrid Classification Project Goal: Make the IPC really usable by all offices The wish list: Level of detail Coverage Consistency of use The plan: Cover most technical fields in 10+ years

Method per field, select best existing local scheme (ECLA, FI, USPC?) Agreement beforehand Move subdivisions in IPC Training & communication between offices IPCECLA G10L

Variations In one technical field, select from different local schemes Add newly created groups proposed by examiners (exceptional) IPC ECLA G10L FI G10L13/03. using - - -

Planning phase October 2009: IP5 Working Group on Classification 5 pilot projects started in 2009/2010 STATUS

ProjectIPCSubjectRapporteurBasisIPC Initial proposal F001 G11B 7/24- 7/258 Optical recording media EPEC/FI1879 F002G11B7/12 Optical recording heads CNEC940 F003D04H Making textile fabrics from fibres or filamentary material... JPFI56142 F004G10LSpeech recognitionUSEC/FI38195 F005H01L31/04 Light energy conversion devices KREC1638

Objectives of the pilot: Agree on common scheme Try out procedures Evaluate cost/benefit

IPC - How will it work with CHC? Taking decisions on IPC: IPC/WG and IPC/CE = "Parliament" of all offices, administration by WIPO IPC/WG: 2 meetings per year: scheme approval IPC/CE: 1 meeting per year: policy, scheme adoption, date of entry Agreed CHC projects trigger IPC revision projects CHC projects: main source for change A "re-reform" to come simplify core-advanced level structure revise once per year (maybe twice)

CHC Foundation Project: Status 2 nd IP5WGC3 rd IP5WGC Oct 2009Mar 2010 IPC/WG 4 th IP5WGC May 2010 Sep 2010 Nov 2010 IPC/WG IPC/CE Feb 2011 Evaluation of the pilot projects Within the IP5 Agreement on scheme Forwarding to IPC phase Within the IPC community Approval Adoption Jan 2012 or later Entry into force Reclassification Start! Example of timeline for the pilot projects (timeline will vary depending on the projects)

Summary: Common Hybrid Classification potentially quick; uses well-proven schemes avoids long discussion on details uses well-known IPC framework takes countries CN, KR into account agreement US, EP, JP, CN, KR needed before starting

Timeline Phase I: Planning –Planning and identification of pilot projects –Develop requirements for a mapping and scheme viewing tool –Set-up a training framework Phase II: Pilot projects Implementation of pilot projects The IP5 view Timeline

Phase III: Start of Implementation Phase IV: Internal indexing schemes Phase V: Completion of CHC

Thank you for your attention! P. Held Questions?