The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) held that access to an individual’s personal data in company registers can only be limited in exceptional circumstances provided by domestic law, and after the expiry of a sufficiently long period following the dissolution of the company concerned. The case related to an Italian citizen, Mr. Salvatore Manni, who wanted to have information concerning him removed from the companies register in Italy. The information pertained to him being director and liquidator of a company that went insolvent and was later liquidated. He argued that the information in question harmed his reputation and caused his business to suffer. The CJEU concluded that there was a public interest in making information available to third parties about the constitution of companies, and the powers of persons authorized to represent them. The CJEU, however, did agree that there may be specific situations in which overriding and legitimate reasons can justify limitation of access to the personal data in the companies register.