What will change with respect to searching patent documents?
The users of the IPC do not have to be worried about changes dramatically altering the use of the reformed IPC for searching. In effect, the reformed IPC can be used for searching patent documents as before while some new features will facilitate its application and effectiveness. Some changes due to the reform have immediate effects from January 1, 2006, on, while other benefits will become more apparent in the long run: • Changes with immediate effect after January 1, 2006: • No changes in the format of symbols except for indexing symbols which then have the same format as ordinary classification symbols. • Some additional or amended entries as results of revision projects. • Some existing indexing schemes have been abolished or converted to ordinary classification schemes. • All documents belonging to PCT Minimum Documentation and published before January 1, 2006, will have been reclassified according to the new IPC-8. • All this up-to-date classification information will be availab
