The Man Who Sang IP
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- May 1, 2025
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 09:30
As PETER scrolls through his Facebook feed, he comes across a striking image of VIPs taking the stage to celebrate the World IP Day.
PETER (V.O.): The reception hosted by IPD took place two days before the World IP Day, celebrated on April 26.
Peter examines the individuals in the image.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I had a chance to have a brief conversation with David, the Director, Thomas, the Deputy Director, Sandra, an Assistant Director, and Brenda, the Principal IP Examiner.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I arrived at the reception that evening, I was a new face to those who were manning it.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As I was leaving, they noticed that Paula, who joined IPD in 1990, was with me.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. ASIA SOCIETY - 18:45 (2013)
World IP Day 2013 reception. Buzzed with GUESTS. Peter (58) entertains the crowd by singing his World IP Day song while playing a light-green electric guitar.
PETER (V.O.): Rather than delivering a traditional speech on IP, I choose to sing the key messages about IP.
Singing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My chords and singing may be shaky. My copyright? Rock-solid.
Singing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I try to showcase the creativity in everyone - if I can do it, so can you!
Singing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Creativity thrive when I blend professonalism with personality.
INT. HOPEWELL HOTEL - 17:15 (April 24, 2025)
World IP Day 2025 reception. As Peter enters, RENI warmly greets him.
RENI: I've great news to share - Janet has been promoted to Marketing Head!
Reni escorts Peter to meet JANET.
PETER: Congratulations! You did it!
Peter spots ANTHONY#1 and NANA chatting at a small table. He joins them.
PETER (V.O.): I first came to know Anthony when he was on the verge of becoming the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association in the late 1980s. I was then with the Law Reform Commission.
Chatting with Anthony and Nana about learning Romanian, Italian and French.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nana was one of my interns back in 2003.
ANTHONY#2 spots Peter and they chat.
PETER: How's your daughter?
ANTHONY#2: She is about to read a PhD on the History of Science.
PETER: My daughter still aspires to become a sculptor.
PETER (V.O.): Our daughters were classmates at Roedean.
Then, ALICE spots Peter and they snap a selfie together.
PETER (V.O): We met at a dinner gathering with our mutual friend Malcolm just a few days ago.
ALEX joins Peter.
ALEX: Peter, I hope to see you, and now here you're!
PETER (V.O.): While marketing my concept to position Hong Kong as an international IP trading hub, I reached out to stakeholders for support and included everyone I met in the IPD mailing list.
Chatting with Alex.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As a guest now, I'm still their anchor.
ALEX: Will you be playing the guitar and singing on stage?
PETER: No, I wasn't invited to perform.
Then, Brenda and Vivien approach Peter, inviting him to join for a group photo with the IPD colleagues against the backdrop of the World IP Day 2025 theme: "IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP".
BRENDA & VIVIEN (Singing in unision): World IP Day...
PETER (V.O): Oh, they remember my song!
But the beat is disrupted as more COLLEAGUES rush to join the photo session.
RETURN TO PRESENT
Act 3
INT. LIVING ROOM - 22:15
Peter inserts an AI drawing titled: "The Man Who Sang IP..." to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O): In the world of rules, I discover the music and lyrics hidden between the lines.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Copyright protects the expression of ideas - and I made them sing. A guitar in one hand, a copyright in the other - my creativity is the bridge.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Whether in IP or life, the things I pour passion into echo long after I'm gone.
FADE OUT
END
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