First Japanese Patent Search Firm

According to a December 3, 2004 report from Kyodo News, Techno Search Inc., Japan's first private patent search company, said Friday it will begin operating April 1 next year. Toyota Motor Corp., Suzuki Motor Corp., Yamaha Motor Co. and Okaya & Co. established Techno Search in October when a legal revision took effect allowing private companies to check whether patents already exist on behalf of patent seekers.