A Polish startup filed a patent application with DPMA - 45 pages of technical description in Polish. They missed the three-month translation deadline. The application was automatically deemed withdrawn. No recovery option. Priority date lost, and a competitor filed an equivalent patent before them. The cost of that mistake: years of R&D and the rights to the technology.
If you or your company are filing patents in Germany, let’s break down what needs to be translated, when, and by whom - so you don’t end up in the same situation.
What is DPMA and why patent there¶
DPMA (Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt - German Patent and Trade Mark Office) is the federal authority where patents, trademarks, and designs are registered in Germany. Main office in Munich, additional offices in Berlin and Jena.
Why bother with DPMA specifically? Germany is the largest market in Central Europe with a dense industrial base: automotive, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, electronics. A DPMA patent protects your rights exclusively in Germany - but for many companies that’s already a market worth protecting. Germany also has one of the most active patent litigation landscapes in Europe: infringement gets pursued seriously, and quickly.
For broader international protection there are two other routes: EPO (Europäisches Patentamt - European Patent Office, also based in Munich) or PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty under WIPO). Deadlines for each route are covered below.
What exactly needs to be translated in a patent application¶
A patent application isn’t one document - it’s a package of several components. Each plays a specific role, and translation rules differ.
Description (Beschreibung)¶
The largest component - a detailed technical explanation of how the invention works. It includes: the technical field, description of prior art and the problem it doesn’t solve, detailed description of the solution with implementation examples, references to figures in the drawings.
Translating the description means translating a full technical text. A terminology error here can make the patent either broader or narrower than intended.
Patent Claims (Ansprüche)¶
The most critical part - this defines the scope of legal protection. Claims are divided into independent claims (Hauptansprüche - the core object of protection) and dependent claims (Unteransprüche - adding detail or narrowing the protection).
Every word in the Ansprüche carries legal weight. The translator needs not just the technical vocabulary, but an understanding of how patent claims are structured: “a device characterized in that…” and “a method in which…” are different claim types with different scopes of protection.
Abstract (Zusammenfassung)¶
A brief (150-200 words) summary of the invention for patent databases. Technically the abstract doesn’t define protection scope - but it’s published publicly and is the first thing competitors and patent examiners see.
Text labels in drawings¶
If drawings include text annotations, those get translated too. Without this the figures can be confusing or contradict the description text.
Filing routes and translation deadlines¶
The filing route you choose determines when you need to submit a translation. A missed deadline means automatic rejection or loss of priority date - with no recovery.
Route 1: Direct filing at DPMA¶
You file your application directly with DPMA. The original language determines your translation deadline:
| Original language | Deadline for German translation |
|---|---|
| German | No translation needed |
| English or French | 12 months from filing date (but no later than 15 months from priority date) |
| Any other language (Ukrainian, Polish, Chinese, etc.) | 3 months from filing date |
Legal basis: §35a Patentgesetz (PatG). You can file at DPMA in a non-German language - but the German translation must be submitted within the deadline, otherwise the application is deemed withdrawn.
One more thing: if you’re not resident in Germany, you’re legally required to be represented by a Patentanwalt (patent attorney) or lawyer with a German address. This isn’t optional - it’s the law.
Route 2: EPO (Europäisches Patentamt)¶
EPO grants a “bundle patent” - a single grant decision implemented as a set of national patents in the countries you designate. Three official EPO languages: English, French, German.
Key point: Germany signed the London Agreement (entered into force 2008), which abolished the requirement to translate the full specification for patent validation. If your application was in English and EPO granted the patent - you can validate it in Germany without translating the specification.
Exception: patent claims (Ansprüche) must be available in all three EPO languages. If your patent is in English, you need translations of the claims into German and French.
Since 2023 there’s also the Unitary Patent (Einheitspatent): a single patent with unified effect across 18 EU countries. Also granted via EPO - and also no specification translation required thanks to the London Agreement.
Route 3: PCT → DPMA (national phase entry)¶
PCT is an international application through WIPO that preserves your priority date and gives you time to decide where to actually patent. You can then enter the national phase in Germany.
Deadline: 31 months from the priority date. When entering, you must provide a verified German translation of the description, claims, abstract, and any text in the drawings - if the original isn’t in German.
Who can actually translate patent documents¶
§14(1) Patentverordnung (PatV) is explicit: a patent document translation submitted to DPMA must either be certified by a lawyer or patent attorney, or prepared by a publicly appointed translator.
In practice, three options:
1. Patent attorney (Patentanwalt) The standard choice for foreign applicants. A Patentanwalt is both your representative before DPMA and has the authority to certify translations. It’s a separate German qualification requiring a technical/scientific degree, 34+ months of training, and a passed examination. Non-residents filing at DPMA can’t avoid this - the Patentanwalt is mandatory.
2. Sworn translator (vereidigter / beeidigter Übersetzer) A translator appointed by a regional court (Landgericht). If they have a technical specialization, they can translate patent documents and certify them with their official stamp. Find one via justiz-dolmetscher.de.
3. Specialized patent translation agency Agencies that focus exclusively on patent translations - their translators have technical degrees and knowledge of patent law. But even their output needs to be verified by a Patentanwalt or sworn translator before it can be submitted to DPMA.
A regular translation from a general agency or freelancer without patent specialization won’t work for DPMA. Patent translation requires someone with a technical degree in the relevant field (chemistry, electronics, mechanical engineering, software). Someone with only a linguistics background will produce something grammatically correct but technically wrong.
What it costs¶
Patent translation is among the most expensive types of technical translation. The reason: you need someone with both a technical degree in the relevant domain and deep knowledge of patent terminology and legal structure.
| Document type | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| Description (Beschreibung) - Ukrainian/Russian → German | €50-90 per page |
| Patent claims (Ansprüche) | €60-100 per page (high terminology density) |
| Abstract (Zusammenfassung) | €80-150 flat fee (short document) |
| Verification by patent attorney | €150-500 depending on volume |
A typical patent application runs 15-50 pages. At €50-90 per page, the translation package alone comes to €750-4,500+. Add the Patentanwalt’s representation fees for filing - another €1,000-3,000.
Don’t compare these rates to standard document translation - it’s a different qualification, different liability.
For quickly understanding the content of a foreign patent document - checking what a competitor has filed, or evaluating prior art - you can use AI translation. ChatsControl will produce a working draft in minutes, enough to understand the technical picture. But for official DPMA submission, you need a verified translation from a Patentanwalt or sworn translator.
Common mistakes that cost the most¶
1. Missing the translation deadline. The most frequent and most expensive mistake. For non-German/English/French languages - only 3 months from filing. No restoration possible.
2. Wrong translation of patent claims. An error in the Ansprüche can either narrow your protection (leaving out an important embodiment) or expand it beyond what’s workable - in which case the patent can be invalidated. A competitor’s patent attorney will find it and use it.
3. Translator without technical background. Every word in a patent has legal significance: “at least one”, “preferably”, “a device characterized in that” - these are precise legal constructions, not casual language. A translator without a technical degree produces something grammatically fine but semantically wrong.
4. Certification from the wrong person. A translation certified by a notary or a general agency - DPMA won’t accept it. You need a Patentanwalt or vereidigter Übersetzer with the actual authority to certify patent documents.
5. Skipping the Patentanwalt requirement for non-residents. Foreign applicants without a German address must file through a Patentanwalt - it’s the law, not a suggestion. An application without official representation gets rejected.
One forum post from a tech entrepreneur summed it up well: “We sent a translation of our patent application done by a specialized agency and notarized. DPMA sent it back - the certification format didn’t comply with §14(1) PatV. We had to pay again for proper verification by a Patentanwalt and lost two more weeks in the process.”
FAQ¶
Can you file a patent application at DPMA in English?¶
Yes, §35a PatG allows English-language filings. But you need to provide a verified German translation within 12 months of the filing date (no later than 15 months from the priority date). Non-residents must also appoint a Patentanwalt as their official representative.
How much does patent application translation for DPMA cost?¶
Depends on the language pair and volume. Ukrainian or Russian to German: €50-90 per page for the description, €60-100 per page for the claims. A typical 15-50 page application = €750-4,500+ for translation, plus verification and Patentanwalt fees.
Who is actually allowed to certify a patent translation for DPMA?¶
Under §14(1) PatV - only a lawyer, patent attorney (Patentanwalt), or publicly appointed translator (vereidigter Übersetzer). Regular notarization doesn’t qualify.
Do you need a translation if the patent was granted through EPO?¶
For German validation of the specification - no. Germany signed the London Agreement in 2008. But the patent claims must be available in all three EPO languages, including German.
What’s the deadline for PCT entry into the German national phase?¶
31 months from the priority date. On entry you must submit a verified German translation of all parts: description, claims, abstract, and drawing text.