Opinion

Court: District Court, N.D. California
Filed: Apr 29, 2026
Cited by: 0 cases
Authority: More cited than 41.4%

The opinion

3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

4 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

5 SAN JOSE DIVISION

7 GOOGLE LLC, Case No. 25-cv-04033-BLF

8 Plaintiff,

ORDER REGARDING GOOGLE LLC’S

9 v. ADMINISTRATIVE SEALING

MOTIONS

10 POINT FINANCIAL, INC.,

[Re: ECF Nos. 230, 231]

11 Defendant.

13 Before the Court are two administrative motions:

14 (1) Google LLC’s (“Google”) Administrative Motion to File Under Seal. ECF No. 230.

15 (2) Google’s Administrative Motion to Consider Whether Point Financial, Inc.’s (“PFI”)

16 Material Should be Sealed. ECF No. 231.

17 For the reasons set forth below, Google’s administrative motions are GRANTED to the

18 extent Google requests redactions.

19 I. LEGAL STANDARD

20 “Historically, courts have recognized a ‘general right to inspect and copy public records

21 and documents, including judicial records and documents.’” Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of

22 Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Nixon v. Warner Commc’ns, Inc., 435

23 U.S. 589, 597 & n.7 (1978)). Accordingly, when considering a sealing request, “a ‘strong

24 presumption in favor of access’ is the starting point.” Id. (quoting Foltz v. State Farm Mut. Auto.

25 Ins. Co., 331 F.3d 1122, 1135 (9th Cir. 2003)). Parties seeking to seal judicial records relating to

26 motions that are “more than tangentially related to the underlying cause of action” bear the burden

27 of overcoming the presumption with “compelling reasons” that outweigh the general history of

1 1092, 1099–101 (9th Cir. 2016); Kamakana, 447 F.3d at 1178–80.

2 In addition, in this district, all parties requesting sealing must comply with Civil Local

3 Rule 79-5. That rule requires, inter alia, the moving party to provide “the reasons for keeping a

4 document under seal, including an explanation of: (i) the legitimate private or public interests that

5 warrant sealing; (ii) the injury that will result if sealing is denied; and (iii) why a less restrictive

6 alternative to sealing is not sufficient.” Civil L.R. 79-5(c)(1). Civil Local Rule 79-5 requires the

7 moving party to provide “evidentiary support from declarations where necessary.” Civil L.R. 79-

8 5(c)(2). And the proposed order must be “narrowly tailored to seal only the sealable material.”

9 Civil L.R. 79-5(c)(3).

10 Further, when a party seeks to seal a document because it has been designated as

11 confidential by another party, the filing party must file an Administrative Motion to Consider

12 Whether Another Party’s Material Should be Sealed. Civil L.R. 79-5(f). In that case, the filing

13 party need not satisfy the requirements of subsection (c)(1). Civil L.R. 79-5(f)(1). Instead, the

14 party who designated the material as confidential must, within seven days of the motion’s filing,

15 file a statement and/or declaration that meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1). Civil L.R. 79-

16 5(f)(3). A designating party’s failure to file a statement or declaration may result in the unsealing

17 of the provisionally sealed document without further notice to the designating party. Id. Any

18 party can file a response to that declaration within four days. Civil L.R. 79-5(f)(4).

II. ECF NO. 230

Google has filed an administrative motion to seal portions of its motion for partial

summary judgment and exhibits thereto. ECF No. 230. PFI opposes on the ground that the

“information Google seeks to seal has already been disclosed, is commonly known, and [is]

publicly available.” ECF No. 235 at 1.

Google separates its sealing requests into three categories. The first category is “terms,

phrases, and documents pertaining to Google’s confidential and proprietary technology at issue in

this litigation.” ECF No. 230 at 3. Google contends the disclosure of this information would

reveal Google’s confidential technology and in turn “weaken the competitive advantage Google

1 maintains in the marketplace.” Id. The second category of requests consists of “confidential

2 contracts with third parties” pertaining to Google’s plans to develop, design, and manufacture the

3 chip at issue in this litigation. Id. Google argues that the disclosure of this information would

4 expose Google’s “strategic decision-making with respect to the terms offered to its contracting

5 partners” and, in turn, harm its competitive advantage. Id. The third category of information

6 Google seeks to seal is non-public information pertaining to Google’s agreements with third

7 parties and the identities of the vendors that manufacture, test, and assemble the at-issue chip. Id.

8 at 3–4. According to Google, the public disclosure of this information would reveal Google’s

9 strategy with respect to its contractual relationships and weaken its leverage. Id. at 4.

10 As the sealing request relates to a motion for partial summary judgment, which the Court

11 finds is “more than tangentially related to the underlying cause[s] of action,” the Court will apply

12 the “compelling reasons” standard. Ctr. for Auto Safety, 809 F.3d at 1099–101. It may be, as PFI

13 argues, that some of the information Google seeks to seal is publicly known. See ECF No. 235

14 at 1–4. But Google’s litigation documents aggregate confidential information in a single place,

15 which heightens their sensitivity. The Court thus finds that compelling reasons exist to seal the

16 materials Google identifies, because the “compelling reasons” standard is met for confidential

17 business information that would harm a party’s competitive standing if publicly disclosed. See

18 Music Grp. Macao Com. Offshore Ltd. v. Foote, No. 14-cv-03078, 2015 WL 3993147, at *6

19 (N.D. Cal. June 30, 2015); Jam Cellars, Inc. v. Wine Grp. LLC, No. 19-cv-01878, 2020 WL

20 5576346, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 17, 2020) (finding compelling reasons for sealing “confidential

21 business and proprietary information”); Fed. Trade Comm’n v. Qualcomm Inc., No. 17-cv-00220,

22 2019 WL 95922, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2019) (finding compelling reasons for sealing

23 “information that, if published, may harm . . . competitive standing and divulges terms of

24 confidential contracts, contract negotiations, or trade secrets”); In re Elec. Arts, Inc., 298 F. App’x

25 568, 569 (9th Cir. 2008) (finding sealable “business information that might harm a litigant’s

26 competitive standing”).

27 The Court also finds that the request is narrowly tailored. See Civil L.R. 79-5(c)(3). The

Public ECF Document Portion(s) to Seal Ruling

No. /

2 Sealed

ECF. No.

3 226-1 / Google’s Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-4 Memorandum of i:7, 9, 11, 14; confidential business

4 Points and 1:9, 11, 14, 16, 23, 26; information, the release of

Authorities in 2:1, 6; which could harm Google.

Support of Its Motion 3:14, 20, 22, 24, 26;

6 for Partial Summary 4:6, 8, 13, 17-18, 20, 22-24;

Judgment 5:1-3, 7-8, 10-16, 20, 22,

7 24-25, 27-28;

6:1, 8, 13, 7-16, 19, 21-23,

8 25-26;

7: 2-3, 6, 13-17, 19-24;

8:3, 10-11, 18-19, 27-28;

10 9:4, 12, 20-21, 23-25;

10:1, 11-12, 16, 22, 28;

11 11:3, 5-6, 8, 12-17, 20-21,

28;

12 12:18-19, 21, 25;

13:4-6;

14:14-16, 18, 21-22;

14 15:2-3, 19-20, 22-23, 28;

16:6, 18, 25-26, 28;

15 17:1-3, 16, 25-26;

18:1, 3, 12-15, 17;

19:12, 14, 18-19, 21-22, 25-

17 26;

20:3, 7, 9, 12-13, 15;

18 22:19, 22-23, 25, 28;

23: 3, 5-6, 9-10, 12-17, 19-

19 20.

24:2, 5-6, 13.

226-5 / Exhibit 1 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

21 230-5 Memorandum of confidential business

Points and information, the release of

22 Authorities in which could harm Google.

Support of Its Motion

23 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 2 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

25 230-5 Memorandum of confidential business

Points and information, the release of

26 Authorities in which could harm Google.

Support of Its Motion

27 for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 3 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-5 Memorandum of confidential business

2 Points and information, the release of

Authorities in which could harm Google.

3 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

4 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 4 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Memorandum of confidential business

6 Points and information, the release of

Authorities in which could harm Google.

7 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

8 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 5 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Memorandum of confidential business

10 Points and information, the release of

Authorities in which could harm Google.

11 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

13 226-5 / Exhibit 6 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Memorandum of confidential business

14 Points and information, the release of

Authorities in which could harm Google.

15 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

17 226-5 / Exhibit 7 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Memorandum of confidential business

18 Points and information, the release of

Authorities in which could harm Google.

19 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

21 226-5 / Exhibit 8 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Memorandum of confidential business

22 Points and information, the release of

Authorities in which could harm Google.

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 9 to Google’s Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Memorandum of confidential business

2 Points and information, the release of

Authorities in which could harm Google.

3 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

4 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 10 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 1:9, 12, 14-16, 22, 25, 27; confidential business

6 Memorandum of 2:5, 7, 11, 14-22, 24, 26; information, the release of

Points and 3:2-4, 6-13, 15, 18, 20; which could harm Google.

7 Authorities in 4:1-2, 4, 11;

Support of Its Motion 5:7-8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20-21,

8 for Partial Summary 23.

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 11 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

10 230-6 Google’s 2:6, 17, 23-24; confidential business

Memorandum of 3:1-5; 10, 12-23, 26-28; information, the release of

11 Points and 4:1-25; which could harm Google.

Authorities in 5:1-12, 14-18, 21-23, 25-28;

Support of Its Motion 6:1-2, 4, 10, 13, 21;

13 for Partial Summary 7:7, 9, 11-13.

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 12 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 1:1-6, 8-12, 14-16, 18-20, confidential business

2 Memorandum of 23-24; information, the release of

Points and 2:1, 3, 6, 11-12, 14, 16, 19, which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in 21;

Support of Its Motion 3:1-3, 6-7, 10, 12-14;

4 for Partial Summary 5:1, 3, 5, 7, 11-16, 19, 23,

Judgment 26, 29, 36;

6:5-6, 8;

6 8:1, 4-6, 8, 10, 15-20, 23-26,

30;

7 9:1-2, 4-9, 12-15, 19;

10:1-2, 4-9, 12-15, 19;

8 11:2-3, 7-12, 14-17, 19;

12:1-6, 9-11, 15-16, 21;

13:10, 16;

10 14:4, 7-8, 10, 18-21;

15:1-3, 7-8, 12, 18-19, 21;

11 16:4, 12-13;

17:8-13, 17-18, 23;

12 18:4, 9, 13, 20;

19:5, 12-13, 17-18, 24, 27,

31;

14 20:8,13-15, 19;

21:3-5, 12;

15 22:1-2, 4;

23:1, 6-7, 9, 13. 18-19, 21;

16 24:4, 9-10, 12;

25:1, 6-7, 9;

27:3, 10, 17;

18 29:3-4, 6, 9, 17-18, 20, 22-

23, 26, 28, 34-35;

19 30:1, 6-7, 9;

32:8, 19, 24, 26, 32;

33:9, 15, 22;

21 36:1, 4-5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 20,

27, 32-33;

22 37:2;

39:1-38;

23 41:1, 4, 6, 10, 13-15, 20, 26-

27, 31;

42:1, 3, 6-7, 10, 14-15, 17-

25 19, 22, 25, 26-28, 31-33;

43:1-2, 5-6, 13, 16, 21;

26 44:1, 4, 6-9, 14-15, 17-18,

23-24, 26;

27 45:1, 6-7, 9;

226-5 / Exhibit 15 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 6:4-5, 17, 28; confidential business

2 Memorandum of 13:27; information, the release of

Points and 18:8-9, 22, 27; which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in 65:6, 8-10;

Support of Its Motion 85:20, 24;

4 for Partial Summary 86:2, 3;

Judgment 90:2-3.

226-5 / Exhibit 20 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

6 230-6 Google’s 155:11, 17; confidential business

Memorandum of 156:20; information, the release of

7 Points and 158:21-22. which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 21 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 25:15-16, 20-22, 24-25; confidential business

11 Memorandum of 31:11, 17. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 22 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

15 230-6 Google’s 68:21-22, 24. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 23 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 122:11, 13; confidential business

Memorandum of 123:17; information, the release of

21 Points and 124:6. which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 27 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 2:15, 26; confidential business

25 Memorandum of 3:5, 17; information, the release of

Points and 4:1, 12, 23; which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in 5:3-6, 9-10, 13-19, 21, 24;

Support of Its Motion 6:6, 11, 17-19, 23;

for Partial Summary 7:4, 10, 18.

226-5 / Exhibit 28 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 2:22. confidential business

2 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 30 to Entire audio file. GRANTED as containing

6 230-6 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 32 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 1:7-8, 17, 24; confidential business

11 Memorandum of 2:7, 8, 22; information, the release of

Points and 3:2, 4-6, 8-9, 13-14, 20; which could harm Google.

Authorities in 4:1, 3, 5, 8, 10.

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 33 to Entire audio file. GRANTED as containing

15 230-6 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 34 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 2:25. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 36 to Entire audio file. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 37 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 2:11. confidential business

2 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 39 to Entire audio file. GRANTED as containing

6 230-6 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 40 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 2:3, 10, 16, 32. confidential business

11 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 41 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

15 230-6 Google’s 2:2, 15, 20-21; confidential business

Memorandum of 3:4. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 42 to Entire audio file. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 43 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 1:24-25. confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 44 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 1:14; confidential business

2 Memorandum of 2:1, 9. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 45 to Entire audio file. GRANTED as containing

6 230-6 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 48 to Entire audio file. GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s confidential business

11 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 49 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

15 230-7 Google’s 1:42-43, 45-46; confidential business

Memorandum of 2:1-4, 7-10, 20-22. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 50 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 2:4-7, 11-15, 20-23. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 51 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:7-9, 11-13. confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 52 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:4, 6, 13, 18-19, 25, 28, 31. confidential business

2 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 53 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

6 230-7 Google’s 1:5, 12-13, 16-17, 23, 26, confidential business

Memorandum of 29. information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 54 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:5, 12, 15-16, 22, 25, 28. confidential business

11 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 55 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

15 230-7 Google’s 2:22. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 56 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 57 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:34. confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 59 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:7-11. confidential business

2 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 60 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

6 230-7 Google’s 1:8, 14-15. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 61 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:11, 40. confidential business

11 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 62 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

15 230-7 Google’s 1:3, 10, 17. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 63 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:3, 10, 17-19. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 64 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:3, 10, 18-19. confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 65 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:15-16, 27-34; confidential business

2 Memorandum of 2:2-4. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 66 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

6 230-7 Google’s 1:3, 8, 10, 16, 28, 34, 41-43. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 67 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:3, 10, 12, 18, 30, 36, 44; confidential business

11 Memorandum of 2:1. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 68 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

15 230-7 Google’s 1:8, 19, 24, 26, 32; confidential business

Memorandum of 2:9, 15, 22. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 69 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:19; confidential business

Memorandum of 2:5. information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 70 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:8. confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 71 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:3, 9, 25, 31, 37. confidential business

2 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 72 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

6 230-7 Google’s 1:3, 9, 24, 30, 36-38. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 73 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:3, 9, 25, 31, 38-39. confidential business

11 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 74 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

15 230-7 Google’s 1:25, 27-28, 30-34; confidential business

Memorandum of 2:1-4, 6, 11-13, 22-27. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 75 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:40-42; confidential business

Memorandum of 2:2-8. information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 76 to Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 77 to Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s confidential business

2 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 78 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

6 230-7 Google’s 1:9-15, 19, 28-30. confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 79 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s 1:24, 26, 30-36; confidential business

11 Memorandum of 2:1-3, 5, 9-17, 21-24. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 80 to Entire document. GRANTED as containing

15 230-7 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

17 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

18 for Partial Summary

Judgment

19 226-5 / Exhibit 81 to Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-7 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

21 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

22 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

23 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 82 to Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-8 Google’s confidential business

25 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

26 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

226-5 / Exhibit 83 to Entire document. GRANTED as containing

230-8 Google’s confidential business

2 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

3 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

4 for Partial Summary

Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 84 to Entire document. GRANTED as containing

6 230-8 Google’s confidential business

Memorandum of information, the release of

7 Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

8 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

Judgment

10 226-5 / Exhibit 85 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-8 Google’s 2:19-20. confidential business

11 Memorandum of information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

Authorities in

13 Support of Its Motion

for Partial Summary

14 Judgment

16 III. ECF NO. 231

17 Google has filed an administrative motion to consider whether PFI’s material should be

18 sealed. ECF No. 231. Google contends that this material, which is contained in exhibits 25 and

19 26 to its motion for partial summary judgment, contains sealable material. Id. PFI does not seek

20 to seal any material and opposes Google’s request on the ground that the “information Google

21 seeks to seal has already been disclosed, is commonly known, and [is] publicly available.” ECF

22 No. 236 at 2.

23 Google separates its sealing requests into two categories. The first category is “direct

24 quotes from or close restatements of the non-standard provisions of the Master Purchase

25 Agreement or the Statements of Work.” ECF No. 231 at 3. Google argues that the disclosure of

26 this information would expose Google’s “strategic decision-making with respect to the terms

27 offered to its contracting partners,” and, in turn, harm its competitive advantage. Id. The second

1 design, and manufacture the chip at issue in this litigation. Id. According to Google, the public

2 disclosure of this information would reveal Google’s strategy with respect to its contractual

3 relationships and undermine its leverage in the marketplace. Id.

4 As the sealing request relates to a motion for partial summary judgment, which the Court

5 finds is “more than tangentially related to the underlying cause[s] of action,” the Court will apply

6 the “compelling reasons” standard. Ctr. for Auto Safety, 809 F.3d at 1099–101. PFI argues that

7 Google’s sealing requests are inconsistent with the strong presumption of access to public records,

8 including because the information Google seeks to seal is publicly available. ECF No. 236 at 2–3.

9 Maybe so, but the Court again finds that Google’s litigation documents aggregate confidential

10 information in a single place, which heightens sensitivity. The Court thus finds that compelling

11 reasons exist to seal the materials Google identifies, because the “compelling reasons” standard is

12 met for confidential business information that would harm a party’s competitive standing if

13 publicly disclosed. See Music Grp. Macao Com. Offshore Ltd. v. Foote, No. 14-cv-03078, 2015

14 WL 3993147, at *6 (N.D. Cal. June 30, 2015); Jam Cellars, Inc. v. Wine Grp. LLC, No. 19-cv-

15 01878, 2020 WL 5576346, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 17, 2020) (finding compelling reasons for

16 sealing “confidential business and proprietary information”); Fed. Trade Comm’n v. Qualcomm

17 Inc., No. 17-cv-00220, 2019 WL 95922, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2019) (finding compelling

18 reasons for sealing “information that, if published, may harm . . . competitive standing and

19 divulges terms of confidential contracts, contract negotiations, or trade secrets”); In re Elec. Arts,

20 Inc., 298 F. App’x 568, 569 (9th Cir. 2008) (finding sealable “business information that might

21 harm a litigant’s competitive standing”).

22 The Court also finds that the request is narrowly tailored. See Civil L.R. 79-5(c)(3). The

23 Court’s ruling is summarized below:

1 Public ECF Document Portion(s) to Seal Ruling

No. /

2 Sealed

ECF. No.

3 226-5 / Exhibit 25 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

230-6 Google’s 138:5-6; 139:3, 17, 21; confidential business

4 Memorandum of 140:2, 7, 10, 16; 141:16; information, the release of

5 Points and 142:2, 16, 21; 143:2-3, 12, |which could harm Google.

Authorities in 14-15, 19; 144:5, 7, 10;

6 Support of Its Motion |145:17.

for Partial Summary

7 Judgment

226-5 / Exhibit 26 to Highlighted portions at GRANTED as containing

8 230-6 Google’s 39:3; 41:2, 4, 22; 42:23; confidential business

9 Memorandum of 43:2. information, the release of

Points and which could harm Google.

10 Authorities in

Support of Its Motion

1] for Partial Summary

Judgment

a 12

IV. ORDER

fh ©

6 (1) Google’s administrative motions, ECF Nos. 230, 231, are GRANTED to the extent Google

requests redactions.

5 18 (2) Google SHALL upload a public version of its motion for partial summary judgment and a

19 complete public set of all of the exhibits thereto, including those that are entirely sealed

50 (which should be identified with a placeholder page), those with redactions, and those that

31 are not sealed at all. The Court requests that the exhibits be submitted in numerical order

and be clearly labeled and identified on the docket. Google SHALL upload this complete

33 public version of its motion for summary judgment and set of exhibits on or before May 6,

2026.

Dated: April 29, 2026

26 fi TABSO N FREEMAN

7 United States District Judge

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.