SAS Institute Inc. v. World Programming Limited

Filing 749

ORDER granting #740 Motion to Seal Document - Signed by District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan on 3/12/2018. (Tripp, S.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DIVISION
No.: 5:10-CV-25-FL

SAS INSTITUTE INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
WORLD PROGRAMMING LIMITED,
Defendant.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant World Programming Limited’s
(“WPL”) motion to file under seal the Notice of Supplemental Correspondence [D.E. 736]
(collectively with exhibits, “Notice”) filed by SAS Institute Inc.1 Because the Notice contains
information that is confidential, proprietary, and commercially sensitive information of WPL,
WPL asks that the Court allow SAS Institute to file the Notice under seal. For the reasons that
follow, the Court GRANTS WPL’s motion to file under seal.
To determine whether to grant a request to seal a document, the court must consider
whether “the public’s right of access is outweighed by competing interests.” See Ashcraft v.
Conoco, Inc., 218 F.3d 288, 302 (4th Cir. 2000) (quoting In re Knight Pub. Co., 743 F.2d 231,
235 (4th Cir. 1984)). Although the common law presumes a right to inspect and copy judicial
records and documents, denial of access is within the sound discretion of the court. Id. To
determine whether a party’s interest in sealing records outweighs the public’s right to access, a
court must engage in a three-part analysis: (1) provide public notice of the request to seal and
allow interested parties a reasonable opportunity to object; (2) consider less drastic alternatives
1

WPL has submitted this motion in accordance with Section V(G) of the Court’s CM/ECF
Policies and Procedures Manual and in response to SAS Institute’s Notice of Provisional Filing
Under Seal dated February 8, 2018 [D.E. 739].