United States: Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

The European Patent Office's Board of Appeal has referred critical questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal concerning how patent claims should be interpreted when assessing added subject matter. The referral, pending as G1/26, seeks to clarify whether features from descriptions and drawings can be imported into claim interpretation, and which claim interpretations must be disclosed in the original application to avoid added matter objections.

North Carolina law provides powerful remedies when insurers deny valid claims or fail to deal fairly with policyholders, including treble damages and attorneys' fees.

Federal courts have consistently applied the Supreme Court's Seven County decision over the past year, establishing a highly deferential standard for NEPA review that favors agencies and project proponents.