Patent translations – 4 client case studies

Have you ever felt a bit bewildered by the number of translation services out there? With so many providers professing to specialise in all languages and fields under the sun, it can be hard to figure out who’s the right fit for you.

The risks are particularly high with patent translations – a mistranslation or missed filing deadline could lead to unexpected extra costs and tarnish your reputation with your clients. And with so many other plates spinning, you need the peace of mind that your patent translators really understand what’s at stake.

In this blog post I’m going to delve into some real-world examples of clients who trust me with their patent translations and have that peace of mind. I’ll discuss the challenges they were facing when they came to me and how I was able to achieve the first-rate quality they were looking for. So let’s go!

1. IP firm (Germany/USA)

• Background

This client, an international IP firm with offices across the US and in Germany and China, works with a wide range of innovators in the fields of mechanical engineering, electronics and IT. We began working together after a fellow freelance patent translator who they’d been working with for many years recommended me.

• Objective technical problem

This firm was very happy with the service provided by my colleague. But he often became too busy to take on all the patent translations they needed, in which case they were sent to a multinational translation services provider.

This was not the firm’s preferred option.

The translation quality they received from this provider was sub-par and, most importantly, inconsistent – one day it might be acceptable, the next day they and their team would have to waste their valuable time correcting the text before they could file the application.

They needed another freelancer who they could trust to deliver filing-ready quality every time.

• Solution

It was immediately clear from our initial phone discussion how important top-quality patent translations were for this firm. With several German clients filing applications in the US, and with fixed, pressing deadlines, they needed to be certain that every translation would be ready for filing when it landed back in their inbox.

I give them that peace of mind thanks to my in-depth subject knowledge, perfect command of patent language and robust QA processes. I work with a small network of trusted translation partners – all fellow specialist patent translators and all of whom I’ve met in person! – and every job is looked over with a second pair of eyes before being delivered.

What does this mean for the firm’s patent attorneys? It means they know they’ll receive superior translations every time and can trust me with their clients’ applications. They no longer have to worry whether the quality will dip from one project to the next and whether they’ll have to waste time fixing translations rather than working hard to protect their clients’ IP.

Take a look at my How I Work page to find out more about my processes.

2. IP firm (UK)

• Background

This leading global firm is one of my longest-standing clients. We began working together shortly after I became a Qualified Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (MITI) in 2018. I regularly translate both Rule 71(3) claims and full specifications for them in the field of electrical engineering (motors, converters, self-driving vehicles, etc.).

• Objective technical problem

This firm had had some bad experiences with patent translation providers in the past and struggled to find reliable translators with specialist knowledge of electronics in particular. They needed their translators to be extremely accurate, deliver on time and be able to understand and follow clear instructions, but that was not always the experience they’d had – sadly a story I hear all too often.

• Solution

Having specialised in mechanical and electrical patents since the start of my career, I was able to bring the specialist knowledge the firm was looking for.

From the start I’ve worked on the same end client account – a German manufacturer of electrical devices and appliances. I’ve developed a thorough understanding of the manufacturer’s technology and the terminology they use. The firm’s attorneys are thus assured that they will always receive superb accuracy and consistency across their translations and won’t have to spend huge amounts of time checking them.

Being MITI means not only that my translation skills have been assessed, but also that all my clients can rely on that extra level of professionalism in my work. So no more worrying about whether or not their translation will be in their inbox on time.

• Testimonial

(Psst. If you’re wondering where “a safe pair of hands” came from, it was how my contact at this firm recently described me! If you’d like your patent translations to be taken care of by a safe pair of hands too, get in touch via my Contact page.)

3. Patent infringement proceedings (Germany)

• Background

discover legal GmbH is a niche legal and financial translation agency based in Germany. They work with top German law firms and institutions and are renowned for the excellent quality of their service. We began working together after I met one of the founders, Catherine Besendahl, at a conference.

• Objective technical problem

One of discover legal’s IP clients in Germany launched patent infringement proceedings in relation to three related patents, and discover legal were contracted to translate all the documents involved in the suit. This involved German to English translation of various files.

The 90-page Klage (action) had been filed in German and needed to be translated into English for the firm’s wider team and partners to use. The document would require an IP translation expert. Since discover legal’s clients rely on the best quality, Catherine came to me as she knew I could deliver the standard needed for such a critical project.

• Solution

Any 90-page litigation document is going to present many translation challenges, and this one was no different.

Not only did it refer to many different aspects of German case law, civil law and patent law, but it was also full of images and screenshots containing text, some in German and some already in English with a German translation provided. There were also various sections that appeared to be repetitions of previous ones but were actually very slightly different.

This meant the document and translation had to be pored over with a fine-tooth comb, but Catherine knew she could trust my exceptional eye for detail.

Ultimately, discover legal and their client received a translation that had been crafted with pinpoint accuracy, based on solid background knowledge of IP law and procedure. My crisp writing style clearly and concisely reproduced the client’s arguments, and my attention to detail with the images and captions saved everyone time when it came to finalising the document.

The firm was able to use my translation to progress the case with their international partners, without having to worry about whether the translation of sufficient quality.

• Testimonial

You can read more about my patent litigation translations on my Services page.

4. Patent opposition/appeal (UK/Germany)

• Background

Bryers IP is a firm of IP experts based in the UK working across a wide range of technologies. I connected with one of their attorneys, David Bailey, on LinkedIn in August 2022.

• Objective technical problem

David asked me to quote for the English translation of a German statement of grounds of opposition. The English translation would be used by David and his colleagues to fight an opposition filed against a patent held by one of their clients in the UK.

The statement of grounds cited more than 20 pieces of evidence, ranging from other patents and website content to archive documents and even YouTube videos. Ensuring all the cited passages were rendered correctly in English would require meticulous attention to detail.

David had worked with large patent translation providers in the past but had been disappointed with the results. To keep this litigation on track, he needed the peace of mind of getting a top-quality translation first time.

• Solution

Given the importance of the statement of grounds, David opted for translation plus revision by a second translator. Thanks to my close network of trusted translation partners, David could rest assured that he’d be getting the highest quality and wouldn’t have to waste time making sense of a poor translation.

Since that first project, I’ve worked on the same case again – David also asked me to translate a further submission in opposition and then, after the case went to appeal, the opponent-appellant’s statement of grounds of appeal.

Having me translate several submissions in the same case meant that David got the superior quality he needed every time, plus the added bonus that he was working with a translator who was familiar with the case. I already knew the issues and arguments in play, meaning David got consistency of ideas, wording and tone each time – in other words, the best possible translations for him and his colleagues to progress the litigation.

• Testimonial

If you have a similar case under way or on the horizon, get in touch and we can discuss the project.

Providing peace of mind

Patent translation – whether for filing patent applications abroad or in patent disputes – is highly specialised, and good patent translators are like gold dust.

Many of my clients have had bad experiences with translation services in the past and grew tired of receiving mediocre, inconsistent quality.

Maybe you’ve had a similar experience? If you’ve recognised any of the same challenges I’ve discussed in this blog post, then it could be time to start working with a new patent translation provider.

You need a German to English patent translator who’s been working with firms like yours since the start of his career; a translator who delivers on time, every time; a translator who understands what’s at stake and takes your and your clients’ success as seriously as you do.

If you want the peace of mind of never again having to worry about wasting time and money on poor translations, let’s chat! Here’s how you can get in touch:

• Head to the Contact page to send me a message
• Email me on dean@deanevanstranslations.co.uk
• Book a chat with me on Calendly
• Give me a call on +44 7847 374422 (always the quickest option!)