Burning Man Project filed a complaint against the US Department of the Interior Sunday to block the release of financial records. Burning Man claims that the release of the records should not be allowed because it falls under exception 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, which makes them exempt from release.
The complaint explains the system of the special permit that Burning Man receives from the state to host the festival on state lands every year. The permit allows them to host and additionally makes them pay a percentage of the money that they make during the festival.
Burning Man gave their financial information to the Agency under the agreement that the files would be kept confidential. They claim that if the information becomes public they will suffer irreparable harm and because of the release of the records will allow their competitors to have access to their trade secrets.
Burning Man is seeking to permanently enjoin the Department of the Interior from releasing their records.
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