Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-00010/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-00010-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 35:271 Patent Infringement

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.,

Plaintiff,

v.

KINETIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,

Defendant.

Case No. 14-cv-00010-SI 

ORDER RE: ADMINISTRATIVE 

MOTIONS TO FILE UNDER SEAL

Docket Nos. 96, 110

Currently before the Court are plaintiff Skyworks’ administrative motions to file under seal 

various documents submitted in connection with Skyworks' motion for leave to amend its 

infringement contentions. Docket Nos. 96, 109. Defendant Kinetic USA, the designating party, 

has submitted the declarations of Oliver Kroll in support of the motions to file under seal. Docket 

Nos. 110, 111. 

With the exception of a narrow range of documents that are “traditionally kept secret,” 

courts begin their sealing analysis with “a strong presumption in favor of access.” Foltz v. State 

Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 331 F.3d 1122, 1135 (9th Cir. 2003). “A stipulation, or a blanket protective 

order that allows a party to designate documents as sealable, will not suffice to allow the filing of 

documents under seal.” Civ. L.R. 79-5(a). When applying to file documents under seal in 

connection with a dispositive motion, the party seeking to seal must articulate “compelling reasons 

supported by specific factual findings that outweigh the general history of access and the public 

policies favoring disclosure, such as the public interest in understanding the judicial process.” 

Kamakana v. City and County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178-79 (9th Cir. 2006) (internal 

quotations and citations omitted). Where a party seeks to seal documents attached to a nondispositive motion, a showing of “good cause” under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c) is 

Case 3:14-cv-00010-SI Document 121 Filed 03/03/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

sufficient. Id. at 1179-80; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c). In addition, all requests to file under seal 

must be “narrowly tailored,” such that only sealable information is sought to be redacted from 

public access. Civ. L.R. 79-5(b). These documents are submitted in connection with a nondispositive motion, thus Kinetic USA must meet the “good cause” standard of Rule 26(c).

Kinetic USA seeks to file under seal Exhibits A-W, which are claim charts for accused 

parts and contain confidential information about Kinetic USA’s technology and circuit designs 

and related entities’ product features and specifications. Docket No. 110. Additionally, Kinetic 

USA seeks to file under seal certain portions of Skyworks’ reply brief in support of its motion for 

leave to amend infringement contentions that contain excerpts from the claim charts. Docket No. 

111. After reviewing the exhibits and the reply brief, the Court finds that the “good cause” 

standard has been satisfied. 

Kinetic USA also seeks to file under seal Exhibits 10-16, datasheets for the newly accused 

products, which it contends contain confidential information about Kinetic USA and affiliated 

entities’ technology, product development, and product specifications. Docket No. 111. Having 

reviewed the exhibits, the Court finds the “good cause” standard has been met. 

The Court GRANTS Skyworks’ administrative motion to file these documents under seal. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 3, 2015

______________________________________

 SUSAN ILLSTON

 United States District Judge

Case 3:14-cv-00010-SI Document 121 Filed 03/03/15 Page 2 of 2