Users of Japanese online information outside of Japan have to face two principal obstacles. 1. (1) Japanese hardware with all the options to display Kana and Kanji characters is not sold outside Japan normally.2. (2) Bibliographic data or numerical information are presented by Japanese databases...

The patent information field is in a state of flux, caused by new tools and changing habits and philosophies. In this article a number of major issues arising from this situation are discussed, some ways in which the EPO is responding are described, and some ideas on future developments...