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 § 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: