The translation is usually an underlooked aspect of patent and intellectual property. However, the landscape is growing and expanding across continents translating an essential aspect of IP workflow. The demand for translation includes translating patent applications for filling in another country, patent examiners researching the patentability of an invention in a foreign language, and supporting patent litigation.
Paralegals, patent attorneys, patent agents, IP researchers, or inventors have to procure high-quality but cost-effective translations from professionals. It is very important to keep a few things in mind to ensure that you get value for your money.
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Where to get patent translation services
Patent translation agency
Getting patent translation services from an agency offers various advantages. The agency usually has a comprehensive quality control process matching the industry standard of Translation, Editing, and Proofreading (TEP). Each process is managed by a different native translator to offer certified translation. Additionally, a translation agency can handle bulk orders in multiple languages across various niches.
The main advantage of getting patent translations from a professional agency is the price. You get a translation that matches TEP standards at a single price. There is no need to hire other translators and proofreaders to check the work before delivering it to clients. Apart from saving you a significant amount, there is no need to spend time coordinating translators, proofreaders, and editors for each translation project.
Freelance translators
This is the second option to getting a patent translation. You can find freelancers on freelance sites such as Upwork, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or online directories. When handling various languages in technical fields, you will have to recruit and have a pool of various native speakers to match your needs.
Keep in mind that freelancers usually have various clients. So, you have to agree on the turnaround time for your work. You have to put in the time to manage various freelancers and to manage other aspects of the business such as invoicing and sending payments.
Machine translation
This option is the cheapest but high risk. Translation software has improved with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to handle various tasks including patent translation. You can submit content to Google Translate or use translation programs. However, all these just offer a reasonable idea of content in a foreign language. You can’t expect to get results close to the quality of professional certified translation by natives necessary for patent application.
How to pick a patent translation vendor
A patent translation vendor is your best bet when searching for the best quality translation. However, you have to ensure that you hire the best in the industry. Some of the things to keep in mind when selecting a patent translation vendor include:
Experience and reputation
Patent translation is rapidly growing. The low barriers to entry have encouraged various language translation service providers to join the market from across the world. When selecting a vendor for your needs, reputation matters. Equally important is to pick one with proven experience in the business. You have to check their portfolio, reviews, testimonials, and references.
Additionally, ensure that the vendor has experience in your niche. This is very important to ensure that you get a quality translation for your highly specialized patents. Keep in mind that some translation companies specialize in particular fields. So, you have to be sure that you’re working with a company that understands your requirements.
Quality control process
The ideal company for your patent translation requirements should have a quality control process. Equally important is to understand their recruitment process and how they evaluate their linguists. The company should follow industry-standard TEP guidelines for all translations. Additionally, the company should have professional liability insurance and affiliation with recognized bodies in the industry.
Turnaround time
It is very important to work with a company that can handle your translation requirements. Most companies handle about 2,000 words daily with editing and proofreading. You can always ask whether the company offers expedited services when short of time. Professional vendors have a team of multiple linguists who handle bulk projects with a quick turnaround time when needed.
You need a company that doesn’t compromise quality control regardless of the turnaround time. This is very important to ensure that you don’t get inconsistencies in terminology style and choice in the content.
Competitive pricing
Avoid translation companies whose price is too good to be true. Translating technical documents is expensive. Cheap translations are most times poor quality. You are likely to end up with jeopardize patent and litigation application that costs more time and money in the end. Paying a competitive price guarantees the best translation that matches industry standards. You can take advantage of volume discounts to save some money on big translation projects.
Bottom line
Patent translation is an essential stage in the patent application process. You can outsource patent translation to professionals while you handle other aspects of the application. However, be sure to work with the best vendor in the industry to get a top-notch translation that won’t jeopardize the application.