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James Bond in a Honda: Trial Simulation Lesson
Description
Students participate in a scripted fictional trial based on a real case in which the producers of James Bond films sued Honda for creating an ad that looked way too much like a James Bond movie. After the "trial," students examine evidence and play the role of jurors. Students apply real copyright law to simulate the process courts use in applying law to fact and arrive at a "verdict." This is a two-day lesson.
Objectives
The student will…
- Simulate participation in a trial by reading a script
- Identify the major components and players in a trial
- Simulate jury deliberation by applying real laws to the facts in the trial in order to reach a verdict
- Evaluate the arguments of both sides in a trial
Lesson Prep
Step by Step
PREPARE by making arrangements to access the following YouTube video, if possible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqa-b3assCA
DAY ONE
ANTICIPATE by asking students if they know what a copyright is. Ask what kinds of things they think can be copyrighted (i.e., books, movies, music, artwork). Next, ask what they think it would look like if someone took someone else to court for copyright violation. Ask volunteers to help paint a mental picture of who would be in the courtroom during the trial.
DISTRIBUTE one trial transcript to each student.
ASSIGN roles for reading the transcript. Plan to have students switch off reading the lawyer roles so more students get a chance to read.
READ the trial transcript as a class. You will show the YouTube video during the reading. If you can't show the video, that's okay. The activity will still work.
TELL the class that tomorrow they will play the role of the jury. It will be their job to study the evidence and decide which side should win the case.
ASSIGN the 2-page review worksheet.
DAY TWO
DISTRIBUTE one "Jury Instructions" page to each student
READ the jury instructions together as a class.
GROUP students into groups of four. (For classroom management reasons, this lesson does not attempt to re-create a 9- or 12-person jury.)
DISTRIBUTE jury deliberation pages so that each student in the group has a different page.
EXPLAIN that each student is responsible for filling out his or her sheet, but that they must discuss each sheet as a group to decide the answers.
CIRCULATE around the room as the "jury" groups deliberate, making sure they are working together as a group on each issue. Important: In the real case, the court found that Honda did copy James Bond. This must be found before the fair use question makes sense, so do your best to steer the groups toward deciding "yes" on whether Honda copied James Bond.
DISTRIBUTE one verdict slip to each group. Collect the completed slips, bring the class back together, and close by discussing the results.
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