Mr Justice Mann on Thursday suggested that journalists could argue that detail should not be kept from the public just because the 77-year-old singer wanted to keep his financial affairs secret.
The judge issued the warning at the latest in a series of preliminary hearings at the High Court in London after lawyers representing the Christian entertainer asked him to bar journalists from having access to part of a document which contained personal financial details.
He said the details contained in the document would remain private at this stage of the litigation.
But he said the position may change at a trial.
Sir Cliff is suing the BBC over coverage of a raid at his apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014.
Lawyers representing the singer say he has suffered ”profound and long-lasting” damage.
BBC editors have said they will ”defend ourselves vigorously”.
A spokesman said the BBC had reported Sir Cliff’s ”full denial of the allegations at every stage”.
Lawyers have told how, in late 2013, a man made an allegation to the Metropolitan Police, saying he had been sexually assaulted by Sir Cliff at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football stadium, in Sheffield, when a child in 1985.
Metropolitan Police officers passed the allegation to South Yorkshire Police in July 2014.
Sir Cliff denied the allegation and in June 2016 prosecutors announced that he would face no charges.
Mr Justice Mann has overseen a number of preliminary hearings.
Any trial is…
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