Basics
The International Patent Classification is a global system administered by WIPO that organises patents according to their technical field. Every patent application filed in Malaysia is assigned IPC symbols by MyIPO examiners.
While IPC codes do not affect the scope of your patent rights, they are essential for prior art searches, examination, and locating your patent within international databases.
Yes. MyIPO applies the IPC to all patent and utility innovation applications filed in Malaysia.
This aligns Malaysian patent records with international standards and facilitates cross border searches, examination cooperation, and global patent intelligence.
The IPC is divided into eight main sections labelled A to H, covering areas such as human necessities, chemistry, mechanical engineering, and electricity.
These sections branch into classes, subclasses, groups, and subgroups, resulting in over 70,000 detailed categories that capture virtually every field of technology.
IPC codes determine how your patent is indexed, searched, and discovered worldwide. Accurate classification improves visibility to potential licensees, investors, and competitors, while also ensuring your patent is found in relevant prior art searches.
For businesses monitoring competitors, IPC codes are an essential research tool.
Assignment & Updates
IPC codes are assigned by patent examiners at MyIPO during the formality and examination process.
Applicants do not need to select IPC codes themselves, although providing a clear technical description helps examiners apply the most accurate classification.
Yes. The IPC is updated annually to reflect technological developments, and patent offices periodically reclassify existing patents to match the latest version.
This ensures that older patents remain searchable under current classification standards.
Reclassification requests are uncommon and generally limited to clear errors. If you believe your application has been misclassified, you may raise the issue with MyIPO during examination.
Our agents can communicate with examiners on your behalf if reclassification is warranted.
IPC codes guide examiners to relevant prior art within specific technical fields, allowing efficient assessment of novelty and inventive step.
Properly classified applications tend to receive more focused examination, which can streamline the overall process.
Searching
IPC codes allow targeted searches in patent databases such as WIPO PATENTSCOPE, the EPO Espacenet, and MyIPO’s online system.
By searching within a specific IPC subclass, you can identify existing patents in your technical field, assess the competitive landscape, and uncover potential prior art.
You can use the WIPO IPC search tool at wipo.int/en/web/classification-ipc or refer to MyIPO’s classification resources.
Alternatively, our consultants can identify the most relevant IPC categories for your invention to assist with prior art searches and competitive analysis.
IPC vs CPC
The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) is a more detailed system jointly developed by the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
CPC builds on the IPC framework but offers approximately 250,000 subdivisions compared with around 70,000 in IPC. Most Malaysian filings rely primarily on IPC, though CPC is useful for international searches.
Practical Use
No. Unlike trademark applications under the Nice Classification, IPC codes do not influence patent filing fees.
Fees in Malaysia are based on factors such as number of claims, pages, and applicant type.
While IPC codes themselves do not determine infringement, they are commonly used in due diligence, freedom to operate analyses, and licensing negotiations to identify relevant patents within a technical field.
Accurate classification supports more efficient portfolio assessment.
IPC codes help businesses track competitors, identify white space in their technology field, and benchmark innovation activity.
Many companies use IPC based analytics to inform R&D decisions, identify licensing opportunities, and monitor emerging trends in specific industries.
We offer comprehensive prior art searches, patent landscaping, and competitive intelligence services using IPC and CPC classifications.
Whether you are filing a new application, conducting due diligence, or planning international expansion, our team provides tailored guidance to help you make informed IP decisions.
The information provided is intended as general guidance only. Applicants are encouraged to consult a registered IP agent for advice tailored to their specific commercial objectives and jurisdictional considerations.