Amicus Brief - Open Markets Files Amicus Brief Opposing Facebook's Motion to Seal Records in Six4Three v. Facebook et al.

WASHINGTON - A court case against Facebook alleges the company engaged in an anticompetitive and fraudulent scheme as a way of extending and maintaining its power. The case has uncovered documentary evidence—including internal communications among top Facebook executives—that will help establish whether Facebook built its dominance through illegal conduct.

Now Facebook is trying to shield these documents from public view. Yesterday, the Open Markets Institute filed an amicus brief opposing Facebook’s motion to seal records in its case against the former startup Six4Three.

As Open Markets explains, the California court should rule against Facebook, as learning about these practices is a vital public interest. The public has an important First Amendment right to access court records, and Facebook’s attempt to hide these documents undermines that right. Whether the materials in question support or contradict Facebook’s contentions about its business practices, researchers, reporters and the public have a right of access. The court should stop Facebook from trying to hide information about potentially new revelations.

Read full brief below or download here.