How does the USPTO handle non-English language prior art documents?
The USPTO handles non-English language prior art documents as follows: Examiners may rely on a machine translation or a translation provided by an applicant to determine the content of non-English language prior art. If the document is in a language the examiner understands, they may use their own translation. For documents of particular relevance, the…
Read MoreCan patent examiners rely on machine translations for non-English prior art?
Yes, patent examiners can rely on machine translations for non-English prior art, but with some caveats. The MPEP 901.05(d) states: “Examiners may rely on a machine translation of a foreign language document unless the machine translation is not of sufficient quality to be adequate evidence of the contents of the document.” Key points to note:…
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