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European Classification (ECLA)
The ECLA classification system is an extension of the International Patent Classification
system. It contains 135 600 subdivisions, ie about 66 000 more than the IPC
, and is therefore more precise. It is also more homogeneous and more systematic.
ECLA classifications are assigned to patent documents by EPO examiners in order to facilitate prior-art searches. ECLA is revised continuously and the corresponding documentation is reclassified.
The ECLA classification symbol is made up of a letter denoting an existing IPC class, followed by a number (two digits) denoting the IPC section level (e.g. B65). Optionally, the classification can be followed by a sequence of a letter (e.g. B65D) denoting the IPC subclass level, a number (variable, 1-3 digits, e.g. B65D81) denoting the IPC group level, a forward slash "/" and a number (variable, 1-3 digits, e.g. B65D81/32) denoting the IPC subgroup or full classification.
Optionally, the classification can be followed by an ECLA subgroup represented by a letter which can also be followed by a digit and a letter (e.g. B65D81/00B1B or A23B4/005F4).
If you want to retrieve all levels below the subgroup level, please use the * wildcard to truncate your search. For example, if you enter B65D81/38*, you will retrieve an important number of results, including classes such as B65D81/38B4, L2, G2, H, C1, etc.
If you enter B65D81/38 in the ECLA field, you will retrieve a lot less results relating to that particular subgroup.
To view the text of a specific ECLA class, go to Classification Search, where you can navigate to any classification. Simply type the relevant classification symbol in the "Find description for a symbol" field in the top right-hand corner of the screen and click "Go".
When an ECLA classification is given to a document, the classification is automatically allocated to the family members (documents having exactly the same priorities) of the document which was first classified in ECLA. If the contents of a specific document differs from those of the document which was first classified, the examiner may ask for a different ECLA class.
It is estimated that 90% of the documents that have to be classified under ECLA are allocated a classification within eight months after the publication.
In March 2007, 29,5 million documents had an ECLA class.
For optimal search results, it is advised to combine queries in the ECLA/IPCfields, with queries in the Abstract field.
For more information on patent searching, see the following pages:
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