PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY

Classification Context

Section:: PHYSICS
Class:: PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY

Description

Class G03 covers image formation and recording technologies using optical waves, non-optical waves (such as X-rays or electron beams), and electrostatic processes. This includes traditional photographic materials and processes, cinematography equipment and techniques, electrographic systems (xerography and related technologies), and holographic recording and reconstruction methods. The class encompasses both the physical media (films, plates, papers) and apparatus used to capture, process, and reproduce images across these diverse technologies.

Filing statistics

IPC G03 recorded 475,640 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 6 subclasses. Annual filings declined from 40,138 in 2013 to 38,963 in 2023 (-3%), peaking at 47,213 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class G03 are CANON (31,416 applications), CANON (17,469 applications) and KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS (9,845 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

making or treatment of photographic PRINT(S)TRANSPARENCY(-IES) bearing pictures for projection

6 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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G03B APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
G03C PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR OR STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
G03D APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
G03F PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
G03G ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
G03H HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

CANON 31,416
CANON JP 17,469
KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS 9,845
RICOH COMPANY 9,807
ASML NETHERLANDS NL 9,427
FUJIFILM JP 7,225
KONICA MINOLTA CORPORATION 7,216
FUJI XEROX COMPANY 5,711
CARL ZEISS SMT DE 4,971
RICOH COMPANY JP 4,123