If you are interested in following Chinese patent trends, you can find interesting findings on the state of patent protection and patent usage at the below URL:
http://www.sipo.gov.cn/zscqgz/2017/201706/t20170630_1312349.html
An executive summary and the full survey report can be downloaded at the web page.
The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (“Indian Patent Office”) issued revised Guidelines on Examination of Computer Related Invention(s) on June 30, 2017. Most notably, the new Guidelines eliminated the previous requirement that a novel hardware is required to patenting computer related inventions in India. This previous requirement has stirred controversy among many in India and elsewhere interested in patenting such inventions in India; the revised guidelines will shift the focus back to the underlying substance of such inventions.
I would also like to inform you about an event hosted by the US Patent Office, Invention-Con 2017. During this free, two day, inventors and entrepreneurs can attend plenary talks, participate in topic specific small-group breakout sessions, and hear from USPTO officials and experts who will present information on patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property (IP) matters and topics of interest to small businesses
More information can be found at the following web site: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events/invention-con-2017