AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Description

G10F covers automatic and mechanical musical instruments that generate music without requiring real-time human performance. This includes player pianos, music boxes, barrel organs, and similar devices actuated by stored control mechanisms such as punched cards, perforated rolls, or mechanical cams. The classification encompasses the mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems that control note selection, timing, and dynamics, as well as synchronization mechanisms for coordinated sound production. Digital and electronic control systems for automatic music generation are also included where they directly replace or augment traditional mechanical control methods.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G10F recorded 1,157 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 100 in 2013 to 75 in 2023 (-25%), peaking at 157 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class G10 are SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (5,218 applications), GOOGLE (4,644 applications) and FRAUNHOFER (4,601 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Non-musical aspects of musical toy instruments Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with automatic musical instruments