IP Document Translation Services
An overview of the importance of using a professional legal translation service when building an international Intellectual Property protection strategy. Whether they are a service-based business or hoping to export someone else’s products, many business owners who take their business global want to work with legal counsel to create an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection strategy so that their copyright, trademarks, and patents are protected in foreign markets.
While copyright laws are typically transferable overseas, patents and trademarks are often only protected in the territory in which they were applied for. In other words, even if your client’s intellectual property is protected under the U.S. laws, that does not mean they will automatically be afforded protection overseas. As a result, they will be required to register these patents and trademarks in those international markets where they choose to expand their business.
With that being said, what this does not mean is that when a client comes to you and asks for legal opinion on building a global IPR protection strategy that you will need to call up the patent office in hundreds of countries. If, for example, the client is applying for patent in only a handful of countries, it is easiest to work with a professional foreign language translator to translate the patent/trademark documents in each official language required and file in each respective country.
Think Global When Using Intellectual Property Translation Services
To apply for global protection, you can take advantage of The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which has streamlined the process of filing patents in multiple countries. By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for a patent in 148 countries throughout the world. Likewise, if your client wants to get trademark protection in multiple countries, you can utilize the Madrid Protocol, which allows you to file for trademark in the U.S. and concurrently seek protection in up to 84 countries.
As far as copyrights are concerned, most countries do not require copyright registration in order to enjoy copyright protection. However, registration can offer several benefits, such as the proof of ownership. The United States has copyright relations with most countries throughout the world. The United States does not have such copyright relationships with every country. However, and if you are concerned that your client’s rights might not be protected in a particular foreign market, you should request information from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The Importance of Legal Translation Services
Before you start applying to these various agencies, it is important to consider how the patent and/or trademark information will be translated. As part of your strategy, you should seek to hire a professional foreign language translator who can help you develop detailed IPR language for your applications and associated documents.
A professional foreign language translation service is the ideal solution for effectively meeting the needs for all IPR related translations. This is because a professional legal translation company will have IP and technical translators with knowledge of the subject matter to help ensure technical accuracy.
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