Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00162/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00162-136/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1338 Patent Infringement

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NICHIA CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

 v.

SEOUL SEMICONDUCTOR CO.,LTD., et al.,

Defendants /

No. C 06-0162 MMC

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO FILE

UNDER SEAL; DIRECTIONS TO

PLAINTIFF

Before the Court is plaintiff’s “Administrative Motion to File Under Seal,” filed

February 21, 2008, by which plaintiff seeks leave to file under seal an unredacted version

of its “Motion for a Finding of Exceptional Case and an Award of Attorney’s Fees” (“Fee

Motion”) and a number of exhibits offered in support thereof. Defendant has not filed a

response thereto. Having considered plaintiff’s administrative motion, the Court rules as

follows:

1. Plaintiff seeks to file under seal Exhibits E, G, J, U, W, X, Y, and Z to the

Declaration of Linda Hansen and to redact any references to the contents of said exhibits

from the version of its Fee Motion filed in the public record. Plaintiff’s request is based

upon its assertion that defendants have designated those exhibits as confidential. Because

defendants have not filed a declaration setting forth why any of those exhibits are

confidential, plaintiff’s motion, to the extent it is based on defendants’ asserted

designations, is DENIED. See Civil Local Rule 79-5(d). Accordingly, plaintiff is DIRECTED

to file in the public record, no later than March 28, 2008, Exhibits E, G, J, U, W, X, Y, and Z

Case 3:06-cv-00162-MMC Document 1021 Filed 03/21/08 Page 1 of 2
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The Court does not, at this time, reach the issue of whether Exhibits R, S, and/or V

include any confidential material. If, however, it is plaintiff’s contention that it can seek an

award of fees, yet keep all evidence of the nature of the work performed and the billing

rates charged secret from the public, plaintiff must submit authority in support of any such

contention.

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and a revised version of its Fee Motion that includes references to the material in those

exhibits. If plaintiff fails to timely comply, the Court will not consider those exhibits in

connection with the Fee Motion.

2. Plaintiff also seeks to file under seal Exhibits R, S, and V to the Declaration of

Linda Hansen and to redact any references to the contents of said exhibits from the version

of its Fee Motion filed in the public record. Apparently undaunted by the Court’s multiple

orders denying plaintiff’s previous attempts to file an entire document under seal simply

because there may exist in the document some matter that is confidential, (see, e.g.,

Orders, Docket Nos. 454, 456, 459, 461, 669, 960), plaintiff, once again, requests such

sealing based on an assertion that each of the three subject exhibits “includes” confidential

matter. (See Song Decl., filed February 21, 2008, ¶ 6.) Because plaintiff’s request is not

narrowly tailored, and is in violation of the Court’s prior and repeated directives, plaintiff’s

motion, to the extent it is based on plaintiff’s asserted designations, is DENIED. See Civil

Local Rule 79-5(a) (providing request to file material under seal must be “narrowly tailored

to seek sealing only of sealable material”). Accordingly, if plaintiff wishes to have Exhibits

R, S and V made part of the record, plaintiff is DIRECTED to, no later than March 28, 2008,

either (1) file in the public record Exhibits R, S and V and a revised version of its Fee

Motion that includes references to the material in those exhibits, or (2) submit a motion that

seeks to file under seal “only” sealable material. See Civil L.R. 79-5(a).1

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 21, 2008 

MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge

Case 3:06-cv-00162-MMC Document 1021 Filed 03/21/08 Page 2 of 2