The Cyberlaw Clinic engages Harvard Law School students in a wide range of real-world litigation, client counseling, advocacy, and transactional / licensing projects and cases, covering a broad spectrum of legal issues relating to the Internet, technology, and intellectual property. The Clinic strives: (a) to help clients achieve success in their activities online, mindful of (and in response to) existing law; and (b) to shape the law’s development through widescale policy and advocacy efforts. The Cyberlaw Clinic was the first of its kind, and it continues its tradition of innovation in its areas of practice.
The Cyberlaw Clinic’s work includes counseling and providing legal guidance regarding complex open access, digital copyright, and fair use issues; engaging in litigation, drafting amicus filings, and otherwise promoting speech and the interests of those who choose to speak anonymously in online fora; preparing legal resources and advice for citizen journalists; advising clients on intellectual property licenses and other contracts, including Creative Commons and other “open” licenses; supporting patent reexamination requests in connection with overly broad technology patents; and drafting briefs, motions, and training materials in the areas of child pornography and youth online safety. More information about the Clinic’s practice areas is available here.
The Clinic works independently, with law students supervised by experienced and licensed attorneys. In appropriate cases, the Clinic collaborates with counsel throughout the country (including the law firm Cooley LLP), to take advantage of regional or substantive legal expertise.
Recognizing that the practice of law in the online world is complex and interdisciplinary, the Cyberlaw Clinic strives to provide expertise in a diverse range of practice areas. Many of the Clinic’s clients have needs that cut across areas of specialization, and individual projects may raise a multitude of legal issues.
The Clinic is based at Harvard University‘s Berkman Center for Internet & Society.