Video of the Patent Opera Is Now Online!
Last week, the High Tech Law Institute hosted a performance of “The Passionate Patent,” perhaps the only opera ever written that relates in any way, shape or form to patent law. The creators self-describe the opera as “Experience the challenge of patenting your invention through the power of opera.” The performance featured four actors/singers plus a narrator and ran about 30 minutes. You can now enjoy the video (download or stream (item #43)).
I’m not an opera fan, so I’m not qualified to evaluate any opera. I will say that the opera didn’t work exactly as I expected, something that became clear only after talking to real opera buffs. The opera is basically a play with opera interludes, but the portions of singing are well-known opera hits (in a variety of languages, including French, German and Italian) that aren’t directly relevant to the play’s narrative. So it’s really a play about patents with some opera singing spliced in (the website says, partially cryptically, “The Passionate Patent…utilizes narration interspersed with some of the most recognized arias in opera”).
I live-tweeted the opera. My tweets:
"Patenting is emotion" because it deals with the inventor's baby #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The inventor has had his "a ha" moment and the opera singing has started #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The inventor is now self-improving his invention #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
Still struggling to determine what language the opera singers are singing. French? Italian? Patent-ese? #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The inventor has been advised about first-to-file under the America Invents Act #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
At the meeting with a patent lawyer, it appears a third person is in the room & destroying the attorney-client privilege #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The patent lawyer is now singing opera in jubilation at winning a new piece of business #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The patent law firm's name is "Bill's Patent Firm: Our Name Says It All" (get the pun?!) #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The patent lawyer is struggling to understand the inventor's technology (obviously not an SCU grad) #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The inventor isn't happy that he can't understand the lawyer's translation of the invention into patent-ese #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The inventor is frustrated by the delay hearing back from the PTO #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
Just noticed that the patent lawyer is wearing a Looney Tunes tie #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The ennui of waiting for a response from the Patent Office is getting to everyone #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
Not surprisingly, the initial office action rejected all of the inventor's claims. Quite realistic! #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
The inventor grudgingly decides to negotiate with the examiner rather than fight for the initial claims #PatentOpera #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013
I won't spoil the end of #PatentOpera but I will say there are no human deaths #htli
— Eric Goldman (@ericgoldman) November 5, 2013