Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
About Us
The Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) is Canada’s first and only public interest technology law clinic. Based at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, our team of legal experts and law students works together to advance the public interest on critical law and technology issues.
Our mandate has three interrelated components:
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We speak up for the public interest when key decisions about technology law and policy are being made by Parliament, the courts, regulatory agencies, international bodies, and private companies;
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We provide pro bono legal counsel to clients with technology law matters that implicate the public interest; and
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We develop public education materials and resources on technology law and policy issues.
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CIPPIC was established in 2003 and is one of five technology law clinics across North America to benefit from the generous financial support of Prof. Pam Samuelson and Dr. Robert Glushko. Learn more about how you can support CIPPIC’s public interest mission by making a tax-deductible donation.
CIPPIC acknowledges that its offices are located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation.
Funding
CIPPIC was established in 2003 with proceeds from a class action lawsuit against Amazon.com, which a judge ordered to be given to the University of Ottawa to start a law clinic to advance the public interest on key technology law issues. These court-ordered funds were matched by an Ontario Government initiative to support technology-related research at several Ontario Universities. In 2007, CIPPIC received a transformative gift from Prof. Pam Samuelson and Dr. Robert Glushko of the Berkeley, California, that allowed it to become a leading voice in Canadian and international technology law and policy discussions.
CIPPIC relies on the generous contributions of donors to maintain and expand its operations. Please visit our Donations page to make a tax-deductible contribution to us today, or reach out to Matt Malone, our Director, to discuss funding opportunities.
CIPPIC Staff
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David Fewer
General Counsel
David Fewer is an intellectual property and technology lawyer who brings over twenty-five years of experience to CIPPIC's advocacy. Prior to joining CIPPIC, David practiced with national firms in British Columbia and Ontario and clerked with the Federal Court of Canada. His graduate legal studies focused on intellectual property policy and the Charter’s significance for copyright. He teaches, writes, and frequently comments in the media on technology law.
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Gareth Spanglett
Articling Student
Gareth Spanglett recently completed his J.D. part time at the University of Ottawa specializing in technology and intellectual property. He has over two decades of industry experience in information technology and data-driven solutions. He is currently a data governance and cybersecurity specialist and AI solutions architect in the semiconductor industry, as well as articling part time at CIPPIC.
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Melissa Dupuis-Crane
Staff Lawyer
Melissa is a recent graduate of the J.D. program at the University of Ottawa, and holds a B.A. in History from Queen’s University. Before studying law, Melissa spent nearly a decade working in digital advertising, most recently as Director of eCommerce at Publicis Media Canada. During law school, she interned at CIPPIC, led the University of Ottawa Tech Fellows, and served as Team Captain for the University of Ottawa’s Harold G. Fox Intellectual Property Moot team.