It will be possible to convert books into data for searching in Japan, without the permission of the copyright owner.

Zen International Patents and Trademarks

The Agency for Cultural Affairs has decided to introduce a new clause that makes the full text of the book into electronic data without the permission of the copyright owner.

There are services like google books in the United States, but it was not possible to do similar services in Japan, due to the existence of the copyright law.

At the earliest, the new clause may be enforced next year.

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