Translating/drafting the application

A Norwegian patent application may be filed in several languages, but must eventually be translated into Norwegian.

A national application without priority may be filed in any language, but must be translated into Norwegian within 16 months. The application may be examined in Norwegian, English, Danish or Swedish, but must nevertheless be translated within 16 months. If amendments have been made in the application, both the original and the current application must be translated.

A national application with priority (convention application) may be filed in any language, but will only be examined in Norwegian. The PTO will issue a formal deficiency action (within 1-2 months after the filing date) giving the applicant a three-month term to provide the Norwegian-texted application.

National phase entry of a PCT application requires a Norwegian-texted document. The translation can be postponed by two months from the 31-month deadline for national phase entry, but the PTO will charge a penalty fee if this is done.

As a general rule, the patent attorney handling the case will also translate it. In peak times, we rely on a network of external translators who previously worked as patent attorneys, as well as a few in-house translators. In such cases, the translation is proofread by the patent attorney handling the case.

Our patent attorneys also have broad expertise in drafting applications and claims.  A detailed description is required, as well as drawings illustrating the invention, if appropriate.