The IP Section — Stream the First Four Episodes

Patent

by Dennis Crouch

I first worked with Wes Austin back in 2006 as he developed his Dunes CLE program and later followed with some interest his Utah-based patent firm Austin-Rapp.  As the image shows below, Austin has expanded from patent law into comedy as well.  His new sitcom – THE IP SECTION – merges the two (as well as Mormonism) and stars a patent lawyer who wants to be a stand-up comedian.

Watch the series here:

  1. The first four episodes are available for streaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6bg3TGN_3hn628xD_1h0ww
  2. Austin also made a video of the back-story: https://www.facebook.com/theipsection/videos/251584812287074/

Do any of your experiences as a patent attorney or inventor fit easily into a comedy routine?

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37 thoughts on “The IP Section — Stream the First Four Episodes”

  1. 9

    Another source for you Wes (and a potential spin-off) is “Intrigue at the Office” with an introduction of a plucky bright-eyed new patent examiner “trying to do the right thing” but running into the politics of the stealthy “Just Say No” Reject Reject Reject culture at the Patent Office.

    Potential there for recurring interactions and deeper story arcs.

    1. 9.1

      I would love to do a series called “The Patent Office”, or maybe “Art Unit 2674” (that sounds cooler). We could have a similar story arc as Breaking Bad, only with a patent examiner instead of Walter White.

  2. 8

    Can you bring in a new character? How about a mouthy partner who h 8tes the idea of anyone making money with patents?

      1. 8.1.1

        ..and he could bug all the actual workers in the office with non-stop pointless insults about everything but patent law, pretending to know all about patent law yet never actually showing he knows what he talks about.

  3. 7

    Thanks Dennis.

    Excellent work Wes. Watched a couple of episodes (with the remainder to come).

    Definitely high-quality, TV/commercial level acting and production.

    TV’s The Office comes to mind.

    In today’s MeTo environment, don’t see a network picking it up; but would fit right in with cable / premium channel (HBO, etc.) / pay per view.

    I mean hey; if the Internet can make even a minimal-talent knuclehead like Bieber a star . . .

    1. 7.1

      Thank you. Much appreciated! Being compared to The Office in any way is a huge compliment. I loved that show.

      If we could be picked up by a cable or large streaming service – wow.

      I was aiming for just above minimally-talented knucklehead. I’m trying to keep my expectations reasonable. Haha!

      1. 7.1.1

        Minimally-talented knucklehead may be too high.

        May I suggest a Supreme Court Justice position instead? That may get you out of being the troop leader.

          1. 7.1.1.1.1

            I heard that Kevin Noonan over at PatentDocs might be able to put in a word for you. Make sure you impress upon him how much this “so-called innovation” is ruining the “modern world” and that judges should just decide what they like when you see him and for good measure, kick him in the shins and tell him that he is nothing but a grifter. And make sure that you flaunt your Ivy League credentials.

            1. 7.1.1.1.1.1

              Uh oh. I don’t have Ivy League cred. I went to the University of Utah College of Law. Am I screwed already? I didn’t even get my resume finished.

  4. 6

    I binged watched all 5 episodes last night. When/where might we see the next batch?

    I would like more inventor interview scenes, examiner interview scenes and some 35 USC 101 humor.

    Also, why did the bra beep?

    1. 6.1

      Thanks for binging the episodes! I’m writing season 2 now, but it won’t be ready until next year. We’re trying to shoot in the late summer, then editing/post-production so that we can release early next year. I’m guessing in the February-March timeframe.

      35 USC 101 humor really is the best. A recent case comes to mind…oh, but I don’t think they intended that to be funny.

      The bra beep – it was the bra tampering alarm that Brian set off. 🙂

        1. 6.1.2.1

          Haha! I love that you found the source of my inspiration for that storyline. 🙂

            1. 6.1.2.1.1.1

              You just blew my mind. I was not aware of that. Honestly I thought I completely made up the grass-fed chicken.

          2. 6.1.2.1.2

            One of my favorites is the frog ladder for swimming pool filters. And of course, the series won’t be complete if you don’t at least give a passing mention to the “stinkless toilet.”

            1. 6.1.2.1.2.1

              Uh…how do I not know about these two amazing patents? Do you have the patent numbers on those? If not I’m sure I can find them but if you have them, please let me know.

              1. 6.1.2.1.2.1.1

                Patent No. 5,862,541 “Swimming pool skimmer well frog rescue device”

                Search “no odor toilet” – there are dozens!

  5. 5

    Someday our very own Supreme Court will do everything it can — Constitution be d.a.m.n.e.d — to seriously cripple American innovation.

    Yuk. Yuk.

    Like they’d ever do such a thing.

  6. 4

    I wondered if I could come up with humor for y’all. So I invented these three, I think (first one feels like it might not be novel.) Subtlety increases so dig down.

    Consistzov and Comprizetov applied to join the club. Comprizetov was rejected…
    claimed it was too exclusive for him anyway.

    Anon and MM entered the Grand Echo Chamber to compare egos. Anon proclaimed that as a component of the Self as a whole it cannot be dissected. MM went apoplectic and left.

    He called the dog a cat.
    If you can imagine that,
    Scrivened at will,
    It was such a thrill
    Add more or less.
    Did anyone get the notice?

  7. 3

    So yet another inventor walks into a patent attorney’s office and says “I have an idea that is going to change the world, I have a laptop, but no money!”

    1. 3.1

      (spoiler alert)

      Actually, in the first episode he walks in and says he invented a grass feed chicken. When the attorney says hes not really an expert on patenting living organisms, the inventor offers to kill the chicken….

    1. 2.1

      Oh, that’s too far out there and unrealistic. We didn’t think the audience would relate to anything as far fetched and completely insane as that.

  9. 1

    I feel like the funnier show would be about a stand-up comedian who wants to be a patent lawyer.

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