Case summaries

Ed Sheeran and his co-writers were declared not to have infringed copyright in Sami Chokri's song "Oh Why" through the "Oh I" post-chorus of "Shape of You". Zacaroli J found neither deliberate nor subconscious copying, granted the declaration and dismissed the counterclaim.

A dispute arose within a Sikh sect over trusteeship of Gurdwaras in Birmingham and High Wycombe. The Supreme Court held that religious issues are justiciable where necessary to determine civil rights, overturning the Court of Appeal's permanent stay of proceedings.

A rogue fraudulently obtained a car using a stolen driving licence to impersonate Mr Patel in a hire-purchase agreement with Shogun Finance. He then sold the car to Mr Hudson, an innocent purchaser. The House of Lords held (3-2) that no contract existed between Shogun and the rogue, so Hudson acquired no title.

Shop Direct Group received a £124m VAT repayment relating to overpaid VAT on trades formerly carried on by other group companies. The Supreme Court held SDG was liable to corporation tax under section 103 ICTA on these post-cessation receipts as beneficial recipient.

A Slovakian national resident in the UK sought the child element of Universal Credit for her son living in Slovakia. She argued EU coordination rules on family benefits should apply. The Supreme Court held the child element is not a separate family benefit but part of the composite UC benefit, dismissing the appeal.

Mrs Sims served a notice to quit on the joint secure tenancy she held with her estranged husband. The Supreme Court upheld the common law rule in Monk that one joint tenant can determine a periodic tenancy, rejecting Mr Sims's Convention rights challenge.

Singularis' chairman and sole shareholder fraudulently directed Daiwa, its broker-bank, to make payments totalling US$204m, misappropriating company funds. The Supreme Court held Daiwa breached its Quincecare duty and the chairman's fraud could not be attributed to the company to defeat the claim.

Singularis, through its liquidators, sued Daiwa for breach of the Quincecare duty after its sole shareholder fraudulently directed payments totalling US$204m from the company's account. The Supreme Court held that the fraudster's conduct could not be attributed to the company to defeat the claim, upholding the bank's liability for negligence.

Sir Cliff Richard successfully sued the BBC for misuse of private information after it broadcast, with helicopter footage, a police search of his home during a historic sex abuse investigation. Mann J held his Article 8 rights outweighed the BBC's Article 10 rights and awarded £210,000 general and aggravated damages.

A charity sought a court order to refuse a member's request for access to its register of members under section 116 of the Companies Act 2006. The member's request omitted required information about disclosure to third parties. The court held the request was invalid and, alternatively, that one stated purpose was improper.

The Danish tax authority claimed it was defrauded of approximately £1.44 billion through false dividend withholding tax refund applications. The Supreme Court held that the revenue rule, which prevents enforcement of foreign tax laws, did not apply because no tax was ever due from the defendants - they were never taxpayers. The claim was admissible as a private law fraud claim.

The Danish tax authority SKAT brought fresh fraud claims against EDFM in 2022 after earlier negligent misrepresentation claims were dismissed under the Revenue Rule in 2018. The Supreme Court held issue estoppel did not bar the new claims, as the fraud allegations involved different facts not determined in the earlier proceedings.

SkyKick provided cloud migration and backup services under the 'SkyKick' mark. Sky alleged trade mark infringement based on its broad SKY marks. SkyKick counterclaimed that Sky's applications were made in bad faith due to lack of intention to use the marks across all registered goods and services. The Supreme Court clarified when lack of intention to use constitutes bad faith filing.

A failed asylum-seeker with depression and PTSD received weekly monitoring and befriending from a council social worker. The Supreme Court held Westminster was entitled to find this was not "care and attention" under s 21(1)(a) National Assistance Act 1948, and indicated such need must be accommodation-related. Appeal allowed.

A child placed with EU citizen guardians in Algeria under the Islamic kefalah system sought entry to the UK. The Supreme Court referred questions to the CJEU on whether she qualifies as a 'direct descendant' under the Citizens Directive, and confirmed appeal jurisdiction.

Credit card holders sued RBS for repayment of PPI premiums, claiming unfair relationships due to undisclosed commissions. The Supreme Court held that limitation periods for section 140B claims only begin when the credit relationship ends, not when PPI payments were made. Claims brought within six years of relationship ending were not time-barred.

Mr Butler, managing director owning 31.2% of shares, suspended Mr Smith, chairman owning 68.8%, without board authority over alleged expense fraud. The Court of Appeal held a managing director lacks implied authority to suspend the chairman, affirming the judge's order for a meeting with quorum of one to remove Mr Butler.

Mr Smith sought to pursue claims against solicitors on behalf of a company (SPDL) after purportedly assigning the company's causes of action to himself at an inquorate board meeting he alone attended. The Court of Appeal considered whether section 35A of the Companies Act 1985 could validate such a transaction and whether subsequent ratification was effective.