What are the requirements for translations of non-English language prior art in patent applications?

According to MPEP 901.05(d), translations of non-English language prior art must meet specific requirements: The translation must be a complete translation of the entire document, including the abstract, text, and all figures. If the translation is a machine translation, it should be identified as such. The translation should be accurate and reliable. The original foreign…

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What specialized services does STIC offer for examiners?

The Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC) offers several specialized services to support patent examiners: Foreign patent document retrieval: STIC can obtain copies of foreign patent documents not available in USPTO databases. Translations: STIC provides translations of foreign language patents and non-patent literature. Scientific and Technical Literature: STIC maintains extensive collections of scientific and technical…

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How does STIC assist with foreign language patent documents?

The Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC) provides crucial assistance with foreign language patent documents in several ways: Document Retrieval: STIC can obtain copies of foreign patent documents that are not readily available in USPTO databases. Translation Services: STIC offers translation services for foreign language patents, enabling examiners to understand and analyze non-English patent documents.…

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What is the purpose of MPEP 901.05(d) – Translation?

MPEP 901.05(d) – Translation provides guidance on handling foreign language prior art documents in patent examination. Its main purposes are: To ensure examiners can access and understand relevant prior art in foreign languages To outline procedures for obtaining translations of foreign documents To clarify when machine translations are acceptable for use in patent examination As…

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How should translations of Article 34 Amendments be formatted for the U.S. national stage?

When providing translations of Article 34 Amendments for the U.S. national stage, it’s crucial to format them in a way that allows for seamless integration with the original application. The MPEP 1893.01(a)(3) provides specific guidance: “Where an English translation of the annexes is provided, the translation must be such that the translation of the originally…

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What translation services are available for foreign patent documents?

The USPTO provides several translation services for foreign patent documents: Oral assistance from translators in the Translations Service Center of STIC Human (written) translations of pertinent portions of references Machine translations Access to previously translated documents According to MPEP 901.05(d): “Examiners may consult the translators in the Translations Service Center of the Scientific and Technical…

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What are the foreign patent document services provided by STIC?

The Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC) offers several foreign patent document services to assist patent examiners: Comprehensive Collection: STIC maintains the most comprehensive collection of foreign patent documents in the United States. Online Access: Most current foreign patent documents are available through automated search tools. Patent Family Searches: The Foreign Patents Service Center performs…

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How should examiners cite foreign language documents and their translations in office actions?

When citing foreign language documents and their translations in office actions, examiners should follow the guidance provided in MPEP 901.05(d): “When citing a foreign language document as a reference in an Office action, the examiner should list the foreign language document on the form PTO-892, “Notice of References Cited” in the normal manner, and should…

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How should applicants cite information from foreign language documents?

When citing information from foreign language documents, applicants should provide an English language equivalent or translation. MPEP 707.05(b) provides guidance on this matter: ‘Where an applicant for patent wishes to cite and rely on a different form of the English language translation of a foreign language document in the record of the application (see MPEP…

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