Court urges greater software protection

Technology companies will find it easier to patent complex software processes after a ruling by the Court of Appeal

Treasury to rescue Icesave's UK customers

Icesave's 300,000 British savers will get all their money back - even above £50k limit - through UK scheme. Video comment

A&L fined record £7 million for mis-selling

Regulator awards largest-ever penalty to UK lender after discovering 'serious' failings on payment protection policies

Way open for £700m Buncefield payout by Total

Oil company admits in High Court that explosion and ensuing fire at Hertfordshire premises could have been predicted

Ofgem says 'unfair' market needs reform

Customers in remote areas, on pre-payment meters or those who pay by cheque are short-changed, says energy watchdog

French elite in dock over £450m Angola arms trial

Son of late President Mitterrand and 41 other prominent French figures in court for start of 'Angolagate' case in Paris

Buncefield victims set for £700m payout

Total, the French oil giant, backs down on a key pillar of its defence against a lawsuit over the 2005 fuel depot blast

Women breakthrough to High Court bench

Five of the 22 High Court judges just announced are women – bringing the total on the bench to its highest, at 17

Long hours and stress drive lawyers to drink

Survey shows that alcohol abuse is 'endemic' and use of drugs is becoming more prevalent, particularly in big City firms

42-day detention bill dropped as unworkable

Government set for an humiliating climbdown over the proposal after being told that it will be defeated in the House of Lords

42-day detention legislation unravelled

No sooner had the measure reached the Lords than it met a considerable obstacle in the form of Baroness Manningham-Buller

No appeals for bus passengers

Bus passengers will have weaker rights than rail passengers, despite government pledge that they would be treated equally

UK decides against lower drink-driving limit

Britain to become only European country to allow motorists to have at least one alcoholic drink and be legally fit to drive

Suicide ban ‘breaches right to privacy’

Debbie Purdy is seeking a landmark ruling to clarify the law on assisted suicide, which is prohibited in Britain