Questel, a Paris-based global provider of intellectual property software and services, has integrated its patent translation services with its Equinox IP management software and other third-party IP systems through newly created connectors, the company said today.

The integration allows patent professionals to initiate translation cases and track progress directly from within their IP management platforms. Through the Questel Services Portal, customers can obtain estimates, provide instructions to translators, download case instructions and upload deliverables, all within seconds, the company says.

AI Augmenting Human Translation

While human translators remain central to its translation services, Questel says, it is deploying AI tools to enhance their work in several key areas:

  • Machine Translation Quality Evaluation (MTQE) quickly identifies potential problems in translated documents, directing human translators to focus their expertise where scrutiny is most needed rather than reviewing straightforward passages.
  • Hallucination detection uses specialized AI to examine output from large language models and neural translation tools, catching obvious errors that can then be corrected or, when necessary, prompting complete retranslation.
  • Compliance checking employs patent-specific AI to ensure consistency of terminology throughout documents and adherence to filing agents’ requirements and formatting preferences, which are critical elements for successful patent applications.
  • Scoring and metrics leverage the Multidimensional Quality Metric (MQM) benchmark to automatically assess translator performance and measure how effectively AI assisted in the translation process.

Flexible Service Levels

Recognizing that not all patent documents require the same level of service, Questel offers tiered options ranging from premium filing-ready translations to AI auto-translations, with multiple gradations in between. More routine documents, such as prior art and office actions, can rely more on AI, while high-value patents receive more intensive human attention.

“Our new Connector-driven integration between our patent translation services and Equinox adds tremendous convenience and visibility to the translation process,” said Jeremy Coombs, Questel’s vice president of translation and filing services. “Also, our translators are leveraging AI in innovative ways to augment their work, leading to more expedient and comprehensive results for our clients.”

Questel serves more than 20,000 clients and 1.5 million users across 30 countries, the company says, offering comprehensive IP management solutions including searching, analysis, filing, translation and cost management services.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.