What assistance is available for examiners dealing with foreign-language patents?
Examiners facing language-related challenges with foreign patents can seek assistance from the Translations Service Center within the Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC). According to MPEP 903.03:
Examiners confronted with language problems in classifying foreign-language patents may call upon the Translations Service Center of STIC for assistance (see MPEP ยง 901.06(a)). In addition, the Translations Service Center retains copies of translated foreign patents in the database.
The Translations Service Center offers two key services:
- Assistance with language-related issues in classifying foreign patents
- Access to a database of previously translated foreign patents
These resources help examiners overcome language barriers and ensure accurate classification and examination of foreign-language patent documents.
To learn more: