Patent translation
Bringing your Chinese invention to Türkiye: not a single word in the claims should drift
When Chinese companies file a patent, utility model or trademark application in Türkiye, they usually have to submit a Turkish text to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT). The scope of protection depends on the wording of the claims; mistranslating a single limiting word can narrow or broaden that protection. Yeni İpekyolu (New Silk Road)'s technical translators work alongside patent attorneys to keep the description, claims and figure legends consistent.
“Comprising” versus “consisting of”: the cost of a single word in a claim
At TÜRKPATENT, the Turkish translation determines the scope of protection
In Türkiye, patent, utility model and trademark applications are received and examined by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT), and official proceedings are generally conducted in Turkish. Whether you file directly in Türkiye, enter the PCT national phase or validate a European patent in Türkiye, a Turkish translation is usually submitted. In Türkiye, the text that defines the scope of protection is often not your Chinese original but this translation.
Patent translation differs from ordinary technical translation: the difference between “comprising” and “consisting of” in a claim can decide whether a competitor’s product falls within the scope of protection. Turkish sentence structure is very different from Chinese; if the modifying relationships in long sentences are built incorrectly, what a limitation covers can change. Patent translation should therefore be done by a translator who knows both the technology and the rules of patent drafting.
Paris priority, PCT or European patent validation?
Chinese applicants generally have several routes into Türkiye: a direct Turkish application based on the Chinese application within the priority period of the Paris Convention; the Turkish national phase via the PCT; or validation in Türkiye after a European patent has been granted. Each route has different deadlines, cost structures and translation requirements. Your Turkish patent attorney should decide which route to take and how the deadline is calculated.
A problem we often see: the team in China focuses on the Chinese, European and US markets, Türkiye is remembered only as its deadline approaches, and just a few days are left for translation. Translating an extensive description in a few days and reviewing it properly is very difficult. We recommend putting Türkiye on the calendar during global filing planning and starting the translation at least several weeks in advance.
Three different names for the same part: the examiner will ask questions
The first issue is inconsistent terminology: if the same part appears under three different names in the description, it looks like three separate parts in translation, and the examiner may raise questions about clarity. The second is failing to deal with Chinese text in the figures, which may mean the figures have to be resubmitted. The third is translating via English, where drift accumulates across the Chinese–English and English–Turkish stages.
In addition, Turkish patent attorneys usually want a counterpart they can discuss technical questions with directly. If the inventor does not speak a foreign language, questions are relayed layer by layer and the process slows down. By acting as a technical language bridge between the inventor and the attorney, we can quickly clarify terms and technical meaning.
We handle the translation; your attorney handles filing and opinions
Yeni İpekyolu handles the Chinese-to-Turkish and Turkish-to-Chinese translation of patent texts, terminology management and the translation of examination correspondence, working together with your Turkish patent attorney. We are not a patent attorney firm; we do not file applications on your behalf or give opinions on patentability or infringement, which are assessed by a licensed attorney or lawyer. Our goal is to provide a high-quality Turkish text that your attorney can use directly.
Before starting, prepare the editable Chinese text, the source files for the figures, any English text or terminology list, and the deadline confirmed by your attorney. If the same patent family has been granted in other countries, share the granted text so we can see the amended claims. Contact details for the inventor or technical lead are also very helpful for confirming terms quickly.
Applicants and companies bringing their patents to Türkiye
Chinese manufacturers entering the Turkish market
Companies that want patent or utility model protection in Türkiye before selling their core products there. Türkiye is a manufacturing and trade hub between Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and the risk of imitation should not be overlooked. Whether to file, and which type of protection to seek, is assessed by a patent attorney based on your product.
Applicants entering the PCT national phase
A PCT application entering the Turkish national phase usually requires a Turkish translation; please confirm the deadlines with your attorney. National phase deadlines are generally tight and translation volumes large, so starting close to the deadline is highly risky. We recommend planning the translation as soon as you decide to enter Türkiye.
Companies facing infringement or invalidity disputes
Chinese–Turkish translation of compared patent texts, search reports and technical evidence. In disputes, the opposing party scrutinises the translation word by word, and any inconsistency can be used against you. We keep the same terminology as the granted text and cite where each passage appears in the original.
From description to claims and figures: the documents we translate
Description of the invention
Full translation of the technical field, background art, summary of the invention and embodiments. The description must support the claims, so no technical detail may be added or removed in translation. Numbers, units and chemical formulas are checked one by one.
Claims
Reference relationships and limiting expressions in independent and dependent claims match the original exactly. Expressions such as “comprising”, “consisting of” and “substantially” make a big difference to the scope of protection. We use established Turkish patent phrasing and keep it consistent with the terms in the description.
Figures and abstract
Translation and layout of reference sign lists, text within figures and the abstract. Reference numerals in the figures must correspond one-to-one with those in the description. Whether text in the figures is replaced or explained separately follows your attorney’s instructions.
Utility model and trademark documents
Utility model application texts, trademark goods/services lists and supporting documents. For trademarks, descriptions of goods and services usually need to follow the wording conventions of the Nice Classification. Supporting documents such as priority documents can be translated at the same time.
Terminology glossary
A Chinese–Turkish glossary for each patent family, keeping later filings and responses consistent. The glossary is delivered to you and your attorney and remains a knowledge asset of your company. It can also be reused later for enforcement, licensing or product documentation translations in Türkiye.
Service summary and requirements
| Filing authority | Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) |
|---|---|
| Language direction | Chinese → Turkish / English |
| Pricing | Per word · figures assessed separately |
| Service languages | Chinese · Turkish · English |
| Cities served | Mainly Istanbul; also Ankara, Izmir and other cities |
The final price and timeline depend on your documents and scope; we send a clear quote within 2 hours.
What you need to provide
- Full Chinese patent text (preferably in an editable format)
- Figure files (source files for text within figures preferred)
- Application type and official deadline (as confirmed by your attorney)
- English text or terminology list, if available
- Contact details of your Turkish patent attorney
Four stages, from confirming the deadline to delivery to your attorney
- 1
Documents and deadlines
Send the Chinese patent text and tell us the application type and the official deadline. Please state who calculated the deadline; the date confirmed by your attorney is the one that counts. Based on this, we assess the workload and propose a delivery plan.
- 2
Building the glossary
Key technical terms are extracted first and, where necessary, confirmed with the inventor or the attorney. Newly coined terms and in-house names are flagged separately. Translation of the main text begins only after the terms are approved, so no large-scale corrections are needed later.
- 3
Translation and technical review
A translator with the relevant technical background translates, and a second translator checks the claims in particular. The review covers reference relationships, numbering, numerical ranges and terminology consistency. Possible typos in the original are listed, and your attorney decides how to handle them.
- 4
Delivery to the attorney
Delivery is in the format your attorney requires, and we also support the translation of responses to examination reports. Letters from TÜRKPATENT during examination can be translated into Chinese so the inventor can understand them. Response texts and amended claims are translated into Turkish as well.
Frequently asked questions
Can you file the patent application for us directly?
A patent application is generally filed by a patent attorney registered in Türkiye. We take care of the translation and work together with the attorney you choose. Filing strategy, deadline calculation and responses to examination reports are the attorney’s responsibility.
Can it be translated directly from Chinese into Turkish?
Yes. Direct translation avoids the drift that can creep in via English; if an English text exists, we use it as a reference for consistency. If the same patent family has been granted in regions such as Europe, we can also take the wording of those texts into account.
What is the deadline for entering the Turkish national phase under the PCT?
It is usually calculated from the priority date; however, for the exact deadline and translation requirements, refer to TÜRKPATENT’s current regulations and your attorney’s advice. If the deadline is missed, remedies may be limited and costly. We recommend starting the translation early.
Is a translation required in Türkiye for a patent granted by the European Patent Office?
Türkiye is a party to the European Patent Convention; for a European patent to be validated in Türkiye, a Turkish translation generally has to be submitted within a set period. For the exact requirements and deadlines, refer to TÜRKPATENT’s current regulations and your attorney’s advice. We translate from the granted text.
Can a translation error be corrected after filing?
Some errors can be corrected through an official procedure; however, whether a correction is possible and how far it can go depends on the regulations and the nature of the error, and it generally cannot go beyond the content originally disclosed. Protection narrowed by a translation can be hard to recover. That is why we carry out quality control before filing and have the claims checked separately by a second translator.
Do we need translation if we are only filing a trademark application?
Although a trademark application involves little text, the goods and services list and the meaning or pronunciation of a Chinese mark sometimes call for precise Turkish wording. If the mark consists of Chinese characters, your attorney may ask for an explanation of its meaning and pronunciation. Determine which documents are needed based on your attorney’s request.
Our technical information contains trade secrets; how is confidentiality protected?
Unpublished patent texts are highly sensitive. We can sign a non-disclosure agreement, limit access to the project translator and the reviewer only, and transfer files using the method you specify. At the end of the project, copies are deleted on request.
Tell us what you need in Türkiye
Our Chinese-speaking consultant reviews it for free and gives you a clear price and timeline.
