I live in Thailand.
I did a job on game software translation of a Korean game developer from June last year. At first their translation agency told that my test translation was selected. I was assigned big volume MS Excel texts in a very tight deadline by using CAT tools.
I did not sign for any NDA or copyright contracts.
I delivered the translation and asked them on comments/revision to improve the translation since I had no reference files and game contents were very imaginary. They replied with nothing and sent me files again and again.
I got only minor additions to files for my amending, no 2nd person review, editing at all etc.
I got MS Word files to translate on the final round. I was surprised with the file formats but I delivered tight deadline job again. I sent invoices. During this time a new agency staff contacted me with bad English and unreasonable instructions. I felt that those were partially from poor English of Korean and partially from non-professional handling of Internet based jobs.
They told they wanted to deduct payment to me unless I revise one file. I accepted and asked for details.
Two month later, the agency wrote back to me and said my largest file translation (about 80,000 US words) was redone by another translator sine my translation was bad (how bad when I used CAT and TM and repeating segments from previous files). I was surprised and asked for the revisions. They sent back 1) a revised file: segments were mostly replaced, not edited or proofread, 2) report of proofreader.
I wrote back that they were confusing about proofreading, editing and revision of the job and they needed to pay me without deduction since I never agreed on such revision processes. They ignored. I phoned to the game company in Thailand (the Korean game subsidiary) to discuss on how to settled the matter. They were not cooperative.
I plan to take lawsuit to both this agency on non-payment to the job and that game company in Thailand, the end-user of my translation of En-Th on copyright of translated files (to shorten the procedures).
Any opinion or recommendation is appreciated.
Soonthon Lupkitaro
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Abdul Mukhid Indonesia Local time: 03:31 Member (2009) English to Indonesian + ...
You had to signed an NDA/contract
Jan 30
For such a big project, I think you need to verify the agent(client). Have you checked the Blueboard? I think you had to sign an NDA/contract. Your lawsuit may be a solution. Maybe you can ask other translators who have worked with them. The worst scenario is it is a scam, and they are not from the company. It may happen to any translators. I experienced a few cases like you. If it is so I am sorry to hear that.
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This game software is genuine: made by a globally well-known Korean developer.
What I want to point out and warn translators is how can we compromise with distorting negotiation and job process handling of (an inexperienced) agency without loss of our professional privilege and payments.
My stand point is: agency pay for mistake of agency without quoting of quality problems that were not managed properly by them before. I also urge translators to take strong points of copyrights unless the contract says something else.
Soonthon Lupkitaro
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