What is a patent translation? What are the features of this type of translation and who should you use for such a service? Here, we will outline everything you need to know.
What is a patent?
First of all, what is a patent? It is an industrial property title that provides you with an exclusive right of exploitation, and prohibits any other party from exploiting the patented invention. Therefore, it is the only way to ensure the ownership of your idea or product.
The duration of validity and the conditions for obtaining a patent vary from country to country.
It should also be noted that a patent will only be valid in the territory where the application was made. In order for a patent to be valid in another country therefore, you need to apply for a patent locally, at the institute dealing with intellectual property in the target country, at the European Patent Office (to benefit from the protection of the invention in 38 European States), or at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which has 151 member countries.
In addition, it is important to know that to apply for a patent registration you may need a number of documents, such as a product description, a fascicle, a search report, the opinion of patent examiners, license agreements, etc.
Patents can be used in a wide range of industries and sectors: engineering, medical, scientific, food processing, biochemical, automotive, mechanical, IT, pharmaceutical, etc.
What are the specificities of patent translation?
First of all, it is important to know that patents can be very challenging documents; they can be complex and subject to lots of legalities.
The translation of patents therefore requires an excellent knowledge of the terminology specific to the sector in question, as well as meticulousness and precision.
The patent must be adapted to the standards in force in the target country and must fully comply with the conventions and practices concerning the format and content requested in the destination country.
Furthermore, the patent must describe the product or concept in detail, so that it cannot be reproduced. The text may contain lots of different information: figures, graphs, illustrations, etc. Attention to detail is therefore essential. The translator must also be able to grasp all aspects of the patent, both the technical and legal dimensions.
Who should I call to translate a patent?
The accurate translation of a patent is therefore very important. In the event of any dispute, the translated patent must not be called into question. It is therefore essential that you choose the right service provider when translating a patent to ensure that the intellectual property is protected by this document.
You should use a professional translator who specialises in the sector concerned by the patent. The translator should translate exclusively into their mother tongue and ideally be based in the country concerned by the translation.
Confidentiality and professionalism are two other qualities that a patent translator should possess.
FAQ on patent translation
The translation of a patent may be necessary when you are applying for patent registration in a foreign country. The patent may also need to be translated if it is going to be given to a business partner or a foreign investor for example.
The cost of translating a patent varies according to the volume of words (it is not uncommon for a patent to contain a hundred pages), the language pairing and the field of specialisation concerned. It should also be noted that patent application costs vary according to the country.
The use of a sworn translator is not mandatory for the translation of a patent, but it may be required by foreign authorities and certain organisations.