Photo Credit: Martin Davidsson

Both as a matter of its deep commitment to the integrity of its scholarship and Stanford University policy, CIS does not take money for academic research (or anything else) with strings attached. All donors to the Center agree to give their funds as unrestricted gifts, for which there is no contractual agreement and no promised products, results, or deliverables. Research at CIS, Stanford Law School, and Stanford University is driven by faculty interest, initiative and direction, and Stanford has strict guidelines for maintaining its academic autonomy and research integrity. Stanford policies provide explicit protection against sponsors who might seek to direct research outcomes or limit the publication of research.

In short, CIS does not accept grants, donations, or any other support that would limit our ability to carry out our research, or any of the other work we do, free of outside influence.

CIS is partly funded through the general budget of the law school. Beyond that, we are fortunate to enjoy the support of individual and organizational donors, including generous support from Google, Inc. Like all donors to CIS, Google has agreed to provide funds as unrestricted gifts, for which there is no contractual agreement and no promised products, results, or deliverables. To avoid any conflict of interest, CIS avoids litigation if it involves Google.

CIS also receives funding through awards of attorney’s fees obtained from time to time in connection with its litigation work and through cy pres settlements. Salaries and research support for Stanford Law School Faculty associated with CIS are funded through the general budget of the law school and are independent of CIS.