Shakespeare at the Inn Program Schedule
Participants are invited to ham it up, chew the scenery, improvise legal discussion in iambic pentameter, and unleash the great Shakespearean actors within them.
Wed., 9/21/2011
6:00 PM at Woodcock Washburn
Planning Meeting and Social Hour
The play: Henry V
Tue., 10/18/2011
6:00 PM at Drexel Law
Deposition Preparation for Patent Attorneys
The play: Henry IV, Part I
Wed., 11/9/2011
6:00 PM at Franklin Inn Club
Patent Prosecution
The play: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Wed., 1/18/2012
6:00 PM at U.S. Courthouse
Annual Judges' Program: Moot Court of Appeals
Edison Electric v. U.S. Electric (featuring Judges Linn, Schiller, and Goldberg)
Wed., 2/8/2012
6:00 PM, at Volpe & Koenig
King Lear: A Tragedy of Trademark Licensing
The play: King Lear
Thu., 3/15/2012
5:30 PM, at U.S. Courthouse
Joint Inn Meeting with PIPLA: The Impact of the AIA on Patent Litigation (featuring Judge Goldberg)
Tue., 3/20/2012
6:00 PM, at Drexel Law
Inequitable Conduct and Other Ethical Concerns
The play: Hamlet
Wed, 4/18/2012
6:00 PM, at Drexel Law
Patent Reform: Tragedy, Comedy, or Both (featuring Judge Michel)
The play: Romeo and Juliet
Week of 5/14/2012
6:00 PM, at Lucky Strike
Social Meeting
Shakespeare at the Inn Program Scenario
All performances begin promptly at 6:00 p.m., except for March 15, 2012, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Registration begins a half-hour before the curtain rises. Every performance to be follow'd by a gala reception with plentiful food and drink.
Weds., Sept. 21, 2011 at Woodcock Washburn: Planning Meeting and Social Hour
"Our plot is a good plot as ever was laid;
our friends true and constant:
a good plot, good friends, and full of expectation;
an excellent plot, very good friends."
Henry IV, Part I , Act II, scene iii
Tues., Oct. 18, 2011 at Drexel University, Earle Mack School of Law: Deposition Preparation for Patent Attorneys
"Depose me? if thou dost it half so gravely, so
majestically, both in word and matter, hang me up by
the heels for a rabbit-sucker or a poulter's hare."
Henry IV, Part I , Act II, scene iv
Tips and traps for patent attorneys who may be questioned in litigation about the patents
they drafted or prosecuted. Our example: wise old Henry Bolingbroke cannot be shaken
by fierce litigator Percy Hotspur. Our counterexample: John Falstaff, a vain, boastful,
and cowardly patent attorney, is expertly deposed and taken down by young Harry Prince.
Weds., Nov. 9, 2011 at the Franklin Inn Club, 205 S. Camac St., Phila. 19107: Patent Prosecution
"I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world."
All's Well That Ends Well , Act II, scene iii
"Why should not I then prosecute my right?"
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act I, scene i
Puck, a patent examiner, spreads his mischief in the form of whimsical § 112 and § 103
rejections. Can patent attorney Titania prevail in securing a notice of allowance for her
asinine client Nick Bottom? Will senior patent examiner Oberon be able to rein Puck in
at a pre-appeal brief conference? Lord, what fools these mortals be!
Weds., Jan. 18, 2012 at the U.S. Courthouse, Ceremonial Courtroom: Annual Judges' Meeting
"Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge of thine own cause."
Twelfth Night , Act V, scene i
Judges Richard Linn, Berle Schiller, and Mitchell Goldberg, our distinguished appellate
panel, meet in moot court to hear an infringement suit once brought by Thomas Edison,
applying current patent law and considering pending provisions of the AIA.
Weds., Feb. 8, 2012 at Volpe & Koenig: Intellectual Property Licensing
"Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be endured riots."
King Lear, Act I, scene iv
Elderly CEO Kenneth "King" Lear considers IP the crown jewels of Lear Corporation.
Three potential licensees are competing to close the biggest deal of Lear's long lifetime.
Will Lear license the IP to the conniving, scheming Regan and Goneril, or to honest and
faithful Cordelia? And on what terms? The consequences of a wrong decision might just
drive Lear mad.
Thurs., Mar. 15, 2012 at the U.S. Courthouse: Joint Inn Meeting with PIPLA
The details are yet to be announced, but be warned that this meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.,
and those who enter late will risk incurring the displeasure of our honored judicial guests.
Tues., Mar. 20, 2012 at Drexel University, Earle Mack School of Law: Inequitable Conduct and Other Ethical Concerns
"O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven…
Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
To wash it white as snow? …
May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?"
Hamlet, Act III, scene iii
Ethics CLE credit is offered. To be or not to be disbarred? Something is rotten in the
firm of Claudius, Polonius & Hamlet, LLC. Claudius is guilty of a serious offense,
flighty Ophelia is undependable, and… alas, poor Yorick! Hamlet discusses his troubles
with his young associate Horatio, and gets wise advice from the ghost of his father.
Weds., Apr. 18, 2012 at Drexel University, Earle Mack School of Law: Patent Reform: Tragedy, Comedy, or Both
"For how do I hold thee but by thy granting?
And for that riches where is my deserving?
The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,
And so my patent back again is swerving."
Sonnet LXXXVII
Judge Paul R. Michel will lead our discussion after each act of this spirited interpretation
of the costs and benefits of the America Invents Act of 2011. Prince Escalus has decreed a
new patent reform law in Verona, at the bidding of lobbyists, Tybalt and Paris. We see
the results unfold through the starry eyes of two young lovers: Romeo is the CEO of
Montague Technologies, and Juliet is the CEO of Capulet Pharmaceuticals. With the
advice of patent counsel, can the star-crossed lovers' companies both survive? Or has the
prince unwittingly prepared a gift of poison, and in the tragic end, will industry and
innovation lie dead?
Week of May 14, 2012 (date and location TBA): Social Meeting
"Do as adversaries do in law,
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends."
The Taming of the Shrew, Act I, scene ii