How to Buy Patent Translation

 

Ensuring that international companies' intellectual property stays secure requires multiple patent filings in multiple countries and languages.

 

page 1 of 3

 

Corporate executives know that when intellectual property is at the foundation of their businesses, patents are essential to their companies' survival. In today's global economy, ideas and products cross borders with ease, and companies need to consider where their patents are valid and in which countries they want to extend that protection. Ensuring that international companies' intellectual property stays secure requires multiple patent filings in multiple countries and languages.

 

Companies that have experience with translation may assume that they can approach patent translation the same way they approach other translation projects. This would be a mistake. Other materials can be reworded, adjusted, modified, and reformatted to accommodate linguistic nuances. Patents, however, require very specialized and precise technical and legal language. Further, every patent’s style, structure, and formatting must adhere to the particular rules of the patent office where it is being filed. Patent translation demands a level of expertise and experience that is beyond the ability of many translation providers.

 

Because the process of translating patents is difficult and the necessity of getting it right is vitally important to a company's future success, deciding where to buy patent translation services can seem overwhelming. The best place to begin is by understanding the differences among the various options and knowing what to look for in a provider. This will put a company on track to ensuring the security of their intellectual property in international markets.

 

Patent translation service providers

 

Before deciding what characteristics are most important in a patent translation service provider, companies need to know what the options are and what each provider offers. Below is a short list of companies or individuals that may offer patent translation services:

 

Translation Vendors – These companies specialize in language translation and often localization. Not all translation vendors have the expertise or resources to translate patents, but some specialize in it.

 

Patent Attorneys and Patent Agents – These professionals file patents and may also offer patent translation. While they have excellent knowledge of the legal requirements in their respective countries, the translation they may offer is often performed by one translator without the assistance of translation technology, which greatly improves the consistency and accuracy of the final product.

 

Freelancers – These translators independently offer translation services outside of translation vendors or patent lawyers' offices. They may or may not have the knowledge required to translate patents. Like patent attorneys and agents, translation is often performed by one person with limited assistance from translation technology.

 

Academics – These are professors and students involved in linguistics and translation who have a special set of skills in learning and teaching. These skills, however, are different from the skills needed to produce a polished, legally accurate product.

 

In-House Translators – Some large companies employ translators in-house who are specialist in their company's industry and who translate specifically for the foreign markets in which the companies are doing business. While being in-house may improve translators' understanding of the technical information regarding an idea, product, or service, it does not ensure their ability to meet the precise demands of