The Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam issued Notice No. 4031/TB-SHTT dated December 26, 2024 on the unified application of the International Patent Classification (under the Strasbourg Agreement), version 2026.01, effective from January 1, 2026.
The Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam hereby announces that the International Patent Classification (IPC), established under the Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification, version 2026.01, was published by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam on its official electronic portal on December 25, 2025, and will be officially applied in Vietnam from January 1, 2026.
Pursuant to Appendix I, Part II of Decree No. 65/2023/NĐ-CP dated August 23, 2023 of the Government, which provides detailed regulations and measures for the implementation of the Law on Intellectual Property regarding industrial property rights, protection of industrial property rights, rights to plant varieties, and state management of intellectual property, as from January 1, 2026, in the section “International Patent Classification” of the patent application form, applicants must indicate the IPC classification symbols of the technical solution for which protection is sought in accordance with IPC version 2026.01.
The classification must be complete, including section, class, subclass, and group (main group or subgroup). The classification must be complete, including section, class, subclass, and group (main group or subgroup). If the applicant fails to classify or provides an incorrect classification, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam shall carry out the classification, and the applicant shall be required to pay the classification fee in accordance with regulations.
During the course of implementation, should any difficulties or issues arise, stakeholders are requested to promptly report them to the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (via the Industrial Property Information Center) for consideration and resolution.
(Notice No. 5102/TB-SHTT dated December 23, 2025 of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam).
INTERNATIONAL PATENT CLASSIFICATION UNDER THE STRASBOURG AGREEMENT (Version 2026.01 – Applicable from January 1, 2026)
Section B: Performing Operations; Transport (B01–B43)
Section B: Performing Operations; Transport (B44–B99)
Section C: Chemistry; Metallurgy (C01–C07)
Section C: Chemistry; Metallurgy (C08–C99)
Section E: Fixed Constructions; Mining
Section F: Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating; Weapons; Blasting
Source: IP Vietnam
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