EPO: business methods classification
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Communication by the EPO
The entry into force on 1 January 2006 of the revised 8th edition of the International Patent Classification (IPC) has given rise to the following change in the Notice from the President of the EPO dated 26 November 2001 concerning limitation of the EPOs competence as a PCT authority (OJ EPO 2002, 52 ff), prolonged in respect of business methods by Notice from the EPO dated 1 December 2004 (OJ EPO 2005, 149):
Under IPC8 (2006), the "Business method related inventions" referred to in paragraph 4 of the above notice (old IPC class: G 06F17/60) now correspond to the following classes and sub-classes:
G06Q: Data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes; systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes, not otherwise provided for
G06Q 10/00: Administration, eg office automation or reservations; Management, eg resource or project management
G06Q 30/00: Commerce, eg marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce
G06Q 40/00: Finance, eg banking, investment or tax processing; Insurance, eg risk analysis or pensions
G06Q 50/00: Systems or methods specially adapted for a specific business sector, eg health care, utilities, tourism or legal services
G06Q 90/00: Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes, not involving significant data processing
G06Q 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
