The European Classification (ECLA) is a former

patent classification A patent classification is a system for examiners of patent offices or other people to categorize (code) documents, such as published patent applications, according to the technical features of their content. Patent classifications make it feasible ...

system maintained by the

European Patent Office The European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation (EPOrg), the other being the Administrative Council. The EPO acts as executive body for the organisation

(EPO). The ECLA classification system contains 134 000 subdivisions. It was introduced mainly as an extension of the

International Patent Classification The International Patent Classification (IPC) is a hierarchical patent classification system used in over 100 countries to classify the content of patents in a uniform manner. It was created under the Strasbourg Agreement (1971), one of a number of ...

system in 1970, but sometimes it modifies its titles and rules. ECLA is used in connection with the indexing system ICO, which serves to identify additional information and aspects that are not covered by the ECLA schemes.European Classification (ECLA)
on the

Espacenet Espacenet (formerly stylized as ''esp@cenet'') is a free online service for searching patents and patent applications. Espacenet was developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) together with the member states of the European Patent Organisation. ...

web site. Consulted on January 20, 2007. ECLA has been replaced by the

Cooperative Patent Classification The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) is a patent classification system, which has been jointly developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).Cooperative Patent Classification The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) is a patent classification system, which has been jointly developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).International Patent Classification The International Patent Classification (IPC) is a hierarchical patent classification system used in over 100 countries to classify the content of patents in a uniform manner. It was created under the Strasbourg Agreement (1971), one of a number of ...

(IPC)

Notes and references

External links

* On the

web site: *
European Classification (ECLA)
*
Coverage of IPC and ECLA classifications
*
Search the European classification
Patent classifications {{Europe-law-stub