Law digests: 30 May 2025

Commons

Darwall and another v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20

This is an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding whether s 10(1) of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 confers on the public a right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on Dartmoor Commons. The court analysed the wording of s 10(1) in its statutory context, including the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Law of Property Act 1925. The court dismissed the appeal, ruling that s 10(1), on its true construction, does confer such a right to wild camp on the Commons.

Costs

Shorts International Ltd v Google LLC [2025] EWCA Civ 653

This was an appeal to the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) from a decision dismissing a claim for trade mark infringement heard in the Business and Property Courts (Intellectual Property List) concerning the determination of the claimant’s application for a costs capping order and the defendant’s application for security for costs. The court held that the proceedings were a claim for trade mark infringement which began in the Intellectual