Patent Translation Services

Application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

The PCT is an international agreement between 117 countries to provide an easier patent filling application process. However, inventors should be aware that the PCT system does not provide you with an international patent. By using the PCT, the inventor can file a single patent application with one patent office (e.g. UK patent office) so that he/she can seek for simultaneous protection for his/her invention in the other 116 countries. The application has to be one of the ten publication languages, and that includes Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.

It is common practice to hire patent services from a professional company to translate your patent application into English. This is because English is still the most frequently used language in business and science. Do go for a reputable translation company because the quality of the work will have a huge impact on your PCT application. One should note that patent translation will not have a very natural writing style because translating a patent needs to be written in a legal style that contains specific information. Furthermore, patent description tends to be very technical. Therefore, a professional translation service will ensure that you have a watertight description of your invention.

Patent Translation for Filing Is Different From Patent Translation for Information

Patent translation services can vary according to the needs of the client. Sometimes the patent translation is only needed for understanding certain patent information, for use of litigation, or investigation of a prior art. In that case, the patent translation will be a more literal translation and the main aim is to get the key information across. This type of patent translation is also very suitable for internal circulation and much cheaper compared to full patent translation for filling.

On the other hand, translations for filing will be carried out by specialist native translators. The translated patent will also be proofread by another expert translator. These translators have working knowledge of intellection property regulations to ensure that the translation is also legally sound. Before filing to the patent office, the translated patent application will be checked by a local patent lawyer to ensure the format of application is correct. With all these safeguard processes in place; one should expect the price to be more expensive compared to patent translation just for information.

Client Confidentiality

An unpatented invention is of no value. Hence, inventors are very reluctant to disclose their invention to a third party. An information leak from the translation company is the last thing any inventor wants to see. So, do make sure that the professional translation company you hire has a good reputation and also a robust confidentiality policy. Always ask the translation company to explain to you on what precautions will be taken to protect the translation work and the original information. This will help to prevent any unnecessary complication in the future.

The Importance of Effective Patent Translation

Patent translation is a complex area that covers business' from design, prototypes, test models etc, and it is crucial that the translation of such is absolutely accurate to the source plans. Such types of translations will be required by research and development companies, information technology, computer hardware and software. The Pharmaceutical industry regularly requires patent translation during development and manufacturing.

Engineering, space technology biotechnology – all need patent translation in a worldwide market and economy. It is essential therefore that the translator will have the necessary accouterments to carry out the requirements of the patent translation with absolute accuracy, taking into account a full understanding of the source patent to be translated and conveying this to the target language. Mistakes of even a minor nature can have disastrous and long lasting consequences that can also be extremely costly.

Patent translation is not a simple task as indicated so that the translator must have considerable experience in the field of translation in the first instance but further, to have the competence to understand what is required and to have good negotiation skills with the company requiring the patent translation. His/her primary concern is to convey the technical and factual source content to the target language in the exact terms that the patent has been developed. Any deviation from the original patent can render it invalid.

In many circumstances, a patent for translation will be very complex and will require more than one patent translator to undertake different aspects of the patent, this being the case, negotiation with the developer and with each other will be crucial to the final piece of work.

In addition to discussion with the patent developer and other patent translators, it may be necessary to discuss final plans with in house lawyers in order to avoid error. This would be particularly important in the case of scientific development and manufacture, medical development and manufacture and other patents that will be input around the globe as part of research programmes.

Other business areas requiring patent translation will be test models, trademarks, manuals, sketches, prototypes, drawings, instructions – the list is almost endless. In all cases, the patent translation will require a translator who has an understanding of the patent but is competent to convey this exactly to the target language. As commented upon, any mistakes can be costly and time consuming.