Seeking clarification on (standard) form

Will Kelly wrote:

Hi all,

I ordinarily translate Dutch>English but have been offered some work proofreading English texts for a German agency. The agency has asked me to sign a form that neither I nor my partner (native speaker of German) fully understand. Which is to say that we understand the individual words but not the full scope of legal implications. It is identical to this one:

https://www.berlin.de/vergabeservice/vergabeleitfaden/formulare/wirt-236-p-verpflichtungserklaerung-anderer-unternehmer.docx

Given that it's identical to the one above, I'm assuming that it must be quite common/standard in Germany, but I'm not used to agencies asking me to expressly accept joint liability (that appears to be the main implication).

Any thoughts?

Rita Translator wrote:
In case it's still relevant, it's just a form indicating that the agency was required to attest that the translators/editors (sub-contractors) with with whom they work fulfill certain qualifications (that could be that they are native speakers of the target language, have a degree in translation, have experience in the field, etc.), and this form is their proof to the client that you - the sub-contractor for this job - fulfill those qualifications. And yes, it also contains joint liability if you submit poor work, for example, but that joint liability is limited to the work you do ("...entsprechend dem Umfang der Eignungsleihe für die Auftragsausführung...").

As always with legal matters, this is an attempt at collegial assistance and not legal advice. You should consult a lawyer if you want to be certain. That having been said, I fill out these kinds of forms occasionally and it's pretty standard.