Child abuse prevention debut: Gender neutral bill protecting minors from sexual offences, punishing offenders with life term and addressing grievances in fast track courts becomes law; Some believe there’s ambiguity on child pornography [The Hindu][The Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act 2012][Wall Street Journal]

India’s first online court – a conference hall in Jharkhand HC linked online with Jharkhand’s sub divisional town Madhupar’s civil court, for monitoring court proceedings online – gets inaugurated by SC justice Altamas Kabir [TOI]

Amended Indo-Swiss DTAA reveals Rs 565 crore of total black money in 219 cases, realizing Rs 181 crore in tax and counting [ITAT Online]

ITAT’s presidential chair is vacant for the last 23 months, for the first time in its 72 year history; Vice president acts as officiating president since retirement of last president – Vimal Gandhi [ITAT Online]

Patents and Trademark pendency: Pre patent grant oppositions – 835, post patent grant oppositions – 156, oppositions disposed in last 5 years – 212, patent grant applications – 1,127, applications for recording trademark assignment – 37,569 [Spicy IP]

Kurdistan Bar Association draws up a list of 50 foreign lawyers and law firms practicing in booming investment destination Erbil, Iraq despite an absolute ban on foreign lawyers and law firms in the country; The Kurdish lawyers gear up to take action [The Lawyer]