“Limited liability — separating owners from the debts and obligations of the company — is a cornerstone of modern capitalism. But can a corporate officer be held personally responsible for a case of patent or copyright infringement at his or her company?”
That question was posed by the University of Michigan in an article it recently posted highlighting the research of Michigan Ross Professor Lynda Oswald (see link below to access article). Oswald’s research will be published in an upcoming issue of American Business Law Journal and addresses the personal liability of owners, shareholders and officers for patent infringement by their companies. The article addresses the increased risk of personal liability for infringement claims in smaller companies and gives advice on how smaller companies can proactively reduce the risk that the corporate veil will be pierced in the event of a patent or copyright infringement claim.
Source: Legal shield weak for small companies in patent cases
