Judge in Texas lawsuit against Google issues protective order – Reuters

Judge in Texas lawsuit against Google issues protective order – Reuters

FILE PHOTO: The Google Inc. logo is seen outside their headquarters in Mountain View, California August 18, 2004. REUTERS/Clay McLachlan/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The judge hearing the Texas antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet Inc's Google put limits on what the search giant's in-house lawyers can see in an order aimed at ensuring that confidential information used in an upcoming trial remains secure.The issue is a key one for companies that have not been identified but that gave information to the Texas attorney general's office for its investigation and fear that their confidential data, like strategic business plans or discussions about negotiations, could be disclosed to Google executives.The order issued by Judge Sean Jordan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas allows Google's in-house counsel to see information deemed “confidential” but they are then limited in advising on some competitive and other decision-making for two years regarding the companies whose data they see.In-house counsel for Google is barred from seeing “highly confidential” information under the order unless it is given permission by the court or the affected company.The Texas lawsuit accuses Google of violating the law in how it dominates the process of placing ads online. It alleges