# European Classification

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The **European Classification** (**ECLA**[1]) is a former [patent classification](/source/Patent_classification) system maintained by the [European Patent Office](/source/European_Patent_Organisation) (EPO). The ECLA classification system contains 134 000 subdivisions. It was introduced mainly as an extension of the [International Patent Classification](/source/International_Patent_Classification) system in 1970, but sometimes it modifies its titles and rules. ECLA is used in connection with the indexing system ICO, which serves to identify additional information and aspects that are not covered by the ECLA schemes.[2] ECLA has been replaced by the [Cooperative Patent Classification](/source/Cooperative_Patent_Classification) (CPC) as of 1 January 2013.

## See also

- [Cooperative Patent Classification](/source/Cooperative_Patent_Classification) (CPC)

- [International Patent Classification](/source/International_Patent_Classification) (IPC)

## Notes and references

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "ECLA" stands for European Classification. See for example: Stock, Mechtild; Stock, Wolfgang G. (2006). ["Intellectual Property Information: A Comparative Analysis of Main Information Providers"](http://www.phil-fak.uni-duesseldorf.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Institute/Informationswissenschaft/1195739509stock_jasi.pdf) (PDF). *Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology*. **57** (13). Wiley Periodicals, Inc.: 1794–1803. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/asi.20498](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fasi.20498). Retrieved 17 February 2013. The European Classification (ECLA) system used by the European Patent Office represents a downward expansion of the IPC system by including over 70,000 subclasses. (quote from page 1795)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [European Classification (ECLA)](http://ep.espacenet.com/help?locale=en_EP&method=handleHelpTopic&topic=ecla) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081017081401/http://ep.espacenet.com/help?locale=en_EP&method=handleHelpTopic&topic=ecla) 2008-10-17 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) on the [Espacenet](/source/Espacenet) web site. Consulted on January 20, 2007.

## External links

- On the [Espacenet](/source/Espacenet) web site: - [European Classification (ECLA)](http://worldwide.espacenet.com/help?topic=ecla&method=handleHelpTopic&locale=en_ep) - [Coverage of IPC and ECLA classifications](http://worldwide.espacenet.com/help?topic=classesqh&method=handleHelpTopic&locale=en_ep) - [Search the European classification](http://worldwide.espacenet.com/eclasrch?CY=ep&LG=en)

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