Introduction
This area sets out, for each subject matter heading of the United Kingdom (UK) Key, the documentation record of that heading, that is to say the availability of subject matter file lists.
A subject-matter file list is a tabulation of the serial numbers of all specifications which have been allotted a particular classifying or indexing term (identified by a code) or a logical combination of terms and, therefore, provides a ready means of identifying specifications disclosing particular subject matter. Details of the period covered by file lists for any code are set out in the documentation record of the relevant heading.
From 1 July 2007 the UKC is no longer applied to documents* classified by the Intellectual Property Office. UK patent documents published after this date will carry either a UKC term applied before 1 July 2007 or an indication that the document is not classified to the UKC (for an interim period this indication will be the application of dummy Heading "N0T" [N zero T] with the Mark "CLASSIFIED").
*Due to international obligations documents appropriate to UKC Headings B5N and C7A will continue to be classified to the UKC.
All published UK specifications back to 1911 and classified before 1 July 2007 (except B5N and C7A which continue to be classified), all published European Patent (EP) applications prior to serial number EP0285000 and all published Patent Co-operation Treay (PCT) applications prior to serial number WO89/00001 are classified according to the UK Key and therefore appear on subject matter file lists. There is an exception to this in the case of the compound structure subject matter area in heading C2C, Organic compounds - see note in the documentation record for C2C.
From EP0285000 and WO89/00001, selected published EP and PCT applications in certain subject matter areas are classified on the UK Key and therefore only these selected applications will appear on subject matter file lists. Information on the UK Key headings in which these selected EP and PCT applications are (or have been) classified can be found in Annex A of this introduction
In addition some specifications from other countries eg DE, FR, US, have been classified on the UK Key and there will be instances where these specifications also appear on subject matter file lists.
Revised editions of the Key are published at intervals with each published edition superseding the immediately preceding edition. Revised editions of the Key published since 1976 have the following operative dates:
| Read across each row to find the edition version and operative date. | |
| Edition | Operative date |
|---|---|
| 1450 Edition | 22 September 1976 |
| 1500 Edition | 8 February 1978 |
| Edition A | 1 January 1979 |
| Edition B | 1 January 1980 |
| Edition C | 1 January 1981 |
| Edition D | 1 January 1982 |
| Edition E | 1 January 1983 |
| Edition F | 1 January 1984 |
| Edition G | 1 January 1985 |
| Edition H | 1 January 1986 |
| Edition I | 1 January 1987 |
| Edition J | 1 January 1988 |
| Edition K | 1 June 1990 |
| Edition L | 1 January 1993 |
| Edition M | 1 January 1994 (see note below) |
| Edition N | 1 January 1995 (see note below) |
| Edition O | 1 January 1996 (see note below) |
| Edition P | 1 January 1998 (see note below) |
| Edition Q | 1 January 1999 (see note below) |
| Edition R | 1 January 2000 (see note below) |
| Edition S | 1 January 2001 (see note below) |
| Edition T | 1 January 2002 (see note below) |
| Edition V | 1 January 2003 (see note below) |
| Edition W | 1 January 2004 (see note below) |
| Edition X | 1 January 2005 (see note below) |
Note: On 1 January 1993, the whole of the UK Key was published as Edition L. Since then only those parts of the Key containing changes have been republished for each new Edition (M-X) of the Key. Thus the latest republished parts together with unamended parts of the Key collectively constitute the latest edition. The republished parts of Editions M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W and X containing changes of substance have operative dates as indicated in the above list and the unamended parts of Edition L have an operative date of 1 January 1993.
Series A File Lists indicate the serial numbers of UK specifications since the year 1911 up to serial number 1,000,000 (published 28 July 1965) allotted to each code in the 960 Edition of the UK Key. The term specified for a Series A file list must be from the 960 Key Edition.
Series C and D file Lists which may include EP and WO serial numbers and some serial numbers from other countries eg DE, FR, US, as well as UK serial numbers are computer generated on request; Series C file lists indicate the serial numbers of specifications allotted to each code in the current Edition of the UK Key and Series D file lists indicate the serial numbers of specifications allotted to each logical combination of codes in the current Edition of the UK Key.
Series C and D file lists are available as set out in the documentation record of each heading. In many headings in the current Edition of the Key, Series C and D file lists are available back to UK serial number 1,000,000 (published 28. 7. 1965); and Series A file lists must be purchased for earlier specifications. Series C and D file lists are also available for certain Editions earlier than the current Edition namely the 1450 Key Edition and subsequent Editions.
It is important to note that:
- when a code is deleted at a key change, file lists for that code will not contain specifications published and/or classified after the code was deleted (although deleted codes may continue to be used to obtain file lists up to the date of the change) and
- when a code is added at a key change, file lists will not necessarily contain specifications published before the operative date of the added code, reference must first be made to the Documentation Record of the particular heading concerned.
Each file list is produced to order and may be obtained from the Search and Advisory service at:
Intellectual Property OfficeConcept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)1633 811010
A set of Series A file lists which may not be photocopied is also available for public inspection at the The British Library (St Pancras, London).
The Documentation Records in this pamphlet provide information on the availability of subject-matter file lists back to about the year 1925 or back to at least UK specification 200,000 (published 5 July 1923)
Where Series C and D file lists for a particular heading are available back to about the year 1925 or back to at least UK specification 200,000 the availability of Series A file lists has not been indicated. However Series A file lists are available for all headings in the 960 Edition of the UK Key.
If a Documentation Record indicates only limited availability for a term introduced at a recent Edition of the Key (for example terms introduced at Edition N available only back to the operative date of Edition N) it is possible that, since printing of this pamphlet, the period for which that term is available has been increased. In such cases you should consult us for the latest situation.
Classification enquiries concerning relevant codes for the generation of file lists and/or the period for which file lists are available should be made either by post to the Patent Classification and Documentation at:
Intellectual Property OfficeConcept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1633 813690
Annex A
Classification of non-UK documents on the UK Key
The following list shows those headings which continued to classify EP and PCT published applications together with the serial number from which classification on the UK Key ceased (where appropriate).
Those headings identified by an * are those in which selected US patent documents have been classified on the UK Key. It should be noted that only a limited number of US documents have been classified in the headings indicated and therefore subject-matter file lists based on the provisions of the UK Key will be substantially incomplete for US documents.
UK Key Headings in which non-UK documents continued to be classified for a limited period after EP0285000 and WO89/00001:
Up to EP1062000 and W001/00000 and US6168000
* G2J, Optical Apparatus (certain subjects only)
Up to EP0300000 and W089/00001
C3V,
Miscellaneous polymer compositions, articles and uses
H2F, Electric converting systems
Up to EP0320000 and W089/00001
A2D, Preserving food, animal
and vegetable substances
&c
* B8C, Packaging &c (Part A)
C2C, Organic compounds (Processes)
*
C3L, Polymer &c working up
* C3T, Organo-silicon polymers
* DIR, Non-woven
fibrous materials
FIR, Raising and discharging liquids &c (Part R15A-R15X)
F2H,
Bolts, rivets, nails
F2V, Fluid pressure control valves &c
* F4G,
Drying &c
F4R, Lamps &c
* HIP, Electromagnets, permanent magnets&c
Up to EP0350000 and WO90/00001
B1E, Catalyst compositions
&c
B3F,
Casting metals
B8R, Handling thin materials (Parts A and C)
B8S, Shoots
and hoppers &c
C4P, Dyes and pigments
* D1B, Dyeing processes (Hair
dyes)
F1W, Fluid pressure reciprocating machines
Up to EP0320000 and W089/06000
GIN, Electrophysical and electrochemical measurement &c (Parts C and D)
Up to EP0390000 and WO90/02100
B6G,
Ornamenting &c
* C3J, Polymer and chemical after treatment
* C3K,
Polymer additives
* C3M, Polymer blends
* C3P, Addition polymers &c
DIP,
Treating textiles
Up to EP0500000 and WO93/00001
GIN, Electrophysical and electrochemical measurement &c (Parts A and B)
Up to EP0600000 and W094/00001
* H1K, Electric solid state
devices &c
(Note:
classifying terms only and not indexing terms from H1K were applied to relevant EP and PCT applications
between EP0500000 and EP0600000 and between W093/00001 and W094/00001)
Up to EP0600000 and WO94/00001
* G1A, Radiation and radiation utilizing measurement &c
Up to EP0600000 and WO94/12010
C7F,
Coating
with metals, inorganic compounds 8cc (Parts A and C)
B5A, Moulding plastic substances
&c (other than synthetic plastics)
B1L, Separating and drying gases
Up to EP0690000 and WO96/00001
* H2E, Electric couplings &c
Further details and information can be obtained from Classification and Documentation.
Tel: +44 (0)1633 813690 or +44 (0)1633 813586.