Strougo v. RealNetworks Inc

Opinion

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4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 BARBARA STROUGO, CASE NO. C24-0297-KKE 8

Plaintiff(s), ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED 9 v. MOTION TO SEAL

10 REALNETWORKS INC., et al.,

11 Defendant(s).

12 Lead Plaintiff Richard Brender filed an amended class action complaint provisionally 13 under seal, which references Defendant RealNetworks, Inc.’s business information designated 14 confidential via an agreement of the parties. See Dkt. No. 55 at 4–13, Dkt. No. 56. Brender 15 simultaneously filed a motion to seal, which Defendants support. Dkt. Nos. 54, 58. Brender also 16 filed a redacted version of the amended complaint on the public docket. Dkt. No. 57. The earlier 17 version of the complaint referenced the same confidential material that is in the amended 18 complaint, and the Court previously granted a motion to seal that version of the complaint. See 19 Dkt. No. 6. Because the motion to seal complies with W.D. Wash. Local Civil Rule 5(g), the Court 20 will grant it. 21 The Court may seal judicial records when a party provides a compelling reason to keep 22 information out of the public view. Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178 23 (9th Cir. 2006). Defendants have met this burden by showing that the material referenced in the 24 1 amended complaint is confidential, and that there is no less restrictive alternative to maintaining 2 that information under seal. The Court finds that the need to protect that information outweighs 3 the public right of access to court records, particularly because the Court’s review of the redacted

4 version of the amended complaint on the public docket indicates that the motion to seal is 5 appropriately tailored. 6 The motion to seal (Dkt. No. 54) is therefore GRANTED. The unredacted version of the 7 amended complaint (Dkt. No. 56) shall be maintained under seal. 8 Dated this 11th day of February, 2025. 9 A 10 Kymberly K. Evanson 11 United States District Judge

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