Patent Translation Services in London
Accurate. Certified. Trusted by IP professionals.
Patent translation: what it is and why accuracy matters
Patent translation is more than a word-for-word exercise. It requires balancing technical accuracy with legal precision. A mistranslated claim or technical term can weaken protection, cause office rejections, or even affect litigation outcomes.
That’s why patent attorneys, R&D teams and inventors rely on specialist linguists who understand both IP law and the relevant scientific field.
When are translations required?
European route (EPO)
- At grant: claims must be translated into the two other official EPO languages within four months (Rule 71(3) EPC).
- Unitary Patent: during the transitional period, a full translation of the entire patent specification is mandatory when requesting unitary effect.
United Kingdom (UK IPO)
Any filing not in English or Welsh usually requires translation within statutory time limits under the Patents Rules. This often applies to priority documents or foreign-language references cited by the examiner.
Other scenarios
- Entering the PCT national phase
- Validating an EP patent in non-UP countries
- Litigation, licensing and due diligence
Typical timelines
- Abstracts and short office actions: 1–2 business days
- Applications (5k–20k words): 3–5 business days
- Large or highly technical specs: customised schedule agreed at quoting
Urgent projects can be split between multiple linguists with unified terminology control to meet deadlines.
Cost factors for patent translations
Costs depend on:
- Word count & language pair – higher volumes and rarer pairs cost more
- Technical subject matter – specialist translators may be needed for biotech, pharma, etc.
- Formatting – complex drawings, formulae, or XML structures add to layout time
- Urgency – rush jobs may carry a surcharge
- Certification – formal statements of accuracy are usually included in the fee
We always provide a fixed quote upfront, with no hidden extras.
Our quality assurance process
- Briefing: we confirm offices, deadlines and preferred terminology.
- Specialist assignment: translator with relevant scientific + IP expertise.
- Glossary & TM: terminology management for consistency across filings.
- Second-linguist review: independent check focusing on legal and technical accuracy.
- Certification: statement of accuracy and credentials provided as needed.
Risks of poor patent translations
Using non-specialist translators or machine translation alone can lead to:
- Invalid claims due to mistranslation
- Rejection by patent offices for non-compliance
- Ambiguity in scope leading to litigation risks
- Loss of credibility with investors and partners
We use technology to support, not replace, expert human judgement.
Confidentiality and security
Patent documents often contain commercially sensitive data. We ensure confidentiality through:
- Non-disclosure agreements on request
- Secure file transfer (encrypted channels)
- Restricted-access workflows
- GDPR-compliant data handling
Need patent translations in London?
Whether you are a patent attorney, inventor, or R&D team, we deliver fast, certified translations that comply with UK IPO, EPO, USPTO and WIPO requirements.
FAQs
Do you use machine translation?
No. We may use secure CAT tools for consistency, but every patent translation is performed and reviewed by specialist human linguists.
Can you handle urgent filings?
Yes. We have urgent and same-day services, with multiple linguists working in parallel under central terminology control.
Are your translations legally valid?
Yes. Certified translations come with statements of accuracy and translator credentials, meeting requirements of UK IPO, EPO, USPTO and WIPO.
What types of clients do you work with?
We assist patent attorneys, IP law firms, corporate legal teams, inventors, start-ups, universities and R&D departments worldwide.
English (UK)