METAx LLC v. Meta Platforms, Inc.

Background

Meta Platforms, Inc. asked the court to prevent depositions of its Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, and its Head of Global Business Group, Nicola Mendelsohn. The request concerned depositions seeking information related to METAx LLC’s claims. Meta Platforms also asked to seal portions of Exhibits 2 and 3, which contained deposition excerpts submitted in connection with the discovery dispute.

Rulings

The court granted Zuckerberg’s and Mendelsohn’s applications for relief from testifying. The order allowed METAx to reapply for their depositions if the information it sought could not be obtained from other witnesses.

The court also ruled that only these portions could be sealed:

- Pages 34–37 and 49–53 of Exhibit 2. - Pages 46, 48, 108–110, 152–154, and 188–189 of Exhibit 3.

The order did not authorize sealing of other portions of the exhibits.

Sealing Request

The submission supporting the sealing request argued that the specified portions contained confidential, nonpublic, and commercially sensitive information about Meta Platforms’ internal discussions, business operations, organizational structure, processes for developing and introducing brands or trademarks, branding strategy, and company goals and vision. It argued that disclosure could give competitors insight that could be used to compete unfairly.

The submission also argued that the exhibits were discovery materials rather than documents directly used to decide the merits of the case. It relied on the legal standard that sealing must be narrowly tailored and supported by specific findings, and it argued that the parties’ protective order reinforced the confidentiality designation.

Disposition

Judge Louis L. Stanton granted the two applications for relief from testifying, subject to the stated opportunity for METAx to reapply. He also limited sealing to the listed pages of Exhibits 2 and 3.