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CPC Subclass Not Allocatable
B42D

BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS

Description

B42D encompasses books, book covers, and loose-leaf systems with emphasis on security and identification features such as holograms, microprinting, watermarks, and anti-counterfeiting measures. It also covers printed matter of non-standard formats or styles, including specialized devices for handling movable-strip media used in writing or reading applications. This subclass excludes conventional bookbinding methods (covered in B42B) and focuses instead on the distinctive physical or security characteristics that differentiate the printed product itself rather than its binding assembly.

12 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • B42D 11/00 Carrying forward or transferring entries from one page to another, e.g. for book-keeping
  • B42D 13/00 Loose leaves modified for binding; Inserts (loose leaves modified for temporary attachment B42F3/00; indexing features B42F21/00)
  • B42D 7/00 Newspapers or the like

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B42, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SICPA HOLDING CH 1,317
  2. GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY DE 949
  3. BUNDESDRUCKEREI DE 881
  4. DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL GB 870
  5. TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY JP 455
  6. G&D (GIESECKE & DEVRIENT) DE 421
  7. CCL SECURE AU 343
  8. OVD KINEGRAM CH 308
  9. OBERTHUR FIDUCIAIRE FR 251
  10. CRANE COMPANY US 204