Intellectual Property, Arts, and Technology Clinic
Students in the award-winning UCI Intellectual Property, Arts, and Technology Clinic support innovation and First Amendment rights in the digital age by advising and representing clients on copyright, protections for journalists, “sunshine” laws for government transparency, trademark, and privacy, among other areas. Students have reviewed documentary films and advised those filmmakers on copyright fair-use issues, collaborated on a "Rap on Trial" attorney practice guide, written motions and appeared in court on behalf of journalists to unseal court records and defend their write to report on the news, and advised start-up businesses on trademark registration and other issues, among other projects.
To learn more, visit the IPAT Clinic website.
Highlighted Work: Press Freedom Project
In Spring 2018 the Clinic founded the Press Freedom Project, making the IPAT Clinic the only clinic on the West Coast dedicated to helping print, online, and audio journalists. Headed by nationally known First Amendment and media law specialist Professor Susan Seager, our Press Freedom Project team provides free legal services to empower local, independent, and diverse journalists, bloggers, podcasters, photojournalists, media organizations, and others who are engaged in enterprise journalism and investigative reporting. In June 2022, Professor Seager was awarded the Los Angeles Press Club’s Guardian Award for Contributions to and Protection of the First Amendment for her work leading this practice.
In the News
- UCI Faculty, Students Inform California and National Policy on Artistic Freedom of Expression - UCI Law
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic Students Win Release of Records Detailing Payouts to Victims of Law Enforcement Misconduct Over Nearly a Decade– UCI Law IPAT Clinic
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic Files Comment with U.S. Copyright Office on Proposed Rules for Copyright "Small Claims Court"– UCI Law IPAT Clinic
- Prof. Seager urges California Supreme Court to decide whether the public and press have a constitutional right to internet access to Britney Spears case – UCI Law IPAT Clinic
- Prof. Lerner and UCI Law IPAT Clinic students Benjamin Brahm and Megan Qiyu Wang file comments with the U.S. Copyright Office on behalf of OTW asking the Office to revise how it is setting up the Copyright Claims Board– Regulations.gov
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic’s Press Freedom and Transparency practice highlights for assisting L.A. Times reporter in obtaining DCFS records– Los Angeles Times
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic pens opinion piece in Los Angeles Daily Journal highlighting incorrect rulings on child welfare transparency law– UCI Law IPAT Clinic
- Kubrin discusses Rap on Trial legal guide produced with Prof. Lerner and UCI Law IPAT Clinic– Legal Talk Today
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic highlighted for representing watchdog group suing L.A. County over withholding misconduct claims – MyNewsLA.com
- Prof. Seager quoted on UCI Law IPAT Clinic’s work in lawsuit against L.A. County over withheld misconduct claims – Daily News
- Watchdog Group Represented by UCI Law IPAT Clinic Sues LA County for Hiding 1,000 Misconduct Cases Against Sheriff's Department and DA's Office – UCI Law
- Prof. Lerner Q&A on Fair Use law and UCI Law IPAT Clinic’s Fair Use Jurisprudence Report – Copyright Lately
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic files $100,000 civil rights claim over LASD arrest of student journalist – UCI Law IPAT Clinic
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic releases Fair Use Jurisprudence 2019-2021 report – UCI Law IPAT Clinic
- Prof. Seager quoted on UCI Law IPAT Clinic work assisting student journalist whose equipment was confiscated by LASD – Orange County Register
- UCI Law School Clinic Demands Return of Student Journalist’s Camera Memory Card and Cell Phone – UCI Law
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic student Amy Chi ’21, Prof. Susan Seager quoted on motion to unseal grand jury transcripts in the Nia Wilson BART murder case – The Mercury News
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic files motion on behalf of First Amendment Coalition to unseal court records in BART stabbing case – First Amendment Coalition
- UCI Law Granted $450,000 to Expand Intellectual Property Clinic's First Amendment Practice – UCI Law
- UCI Law’s IPAT Clinic joins Free Expression Legal Network – IPAT Clinic
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic students help journalist fight gag order in first amendment case – KGET
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic students fight gag order preventing journalist from speaking about public corruption case – Barkersfield.com
- UCI Law IPAT Clinic admitted to USPTO Trademark Program – UCI Law
- UCI Law’s Intellectual Property, Arts & Technology Clinic recognized for public interest focus – Above the Law
- IPAT Clinic Helps Film Debut at Sundance Film Festival – UCI Law
- CLAY Award won by Prof. Lerner and IPAT Clinic highlighted – OC Bar Association News
- Prof. Jack Lerner and IPAT Clinic winners of CLAY Award for work on behalf of filmmakers, authors – Daily Journal