APIEClass activity: Plan and Outcome Files (Intellectual Property Game)
Intellectual property and copyright online
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
PLAN AND OUTCOME FILES
C1 Advanced • Intellectual Property & Online Copyright • 20 Minutes • Teams of 3–4
Grammar Target
Future in the Past
Unit Target Words (+1 Bonus Point Each):
Rules of the Game
For the Teacher
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1
Put students into teams of 3 or 4 and give each team one set of the 6 case files and an answer sheet.
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2
Tell teams: "Read the Then and After facts in each file. Write exactly one sentence connecting both using the green grammar form."
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3
Appoint one student in each team as the scorekeeper and start the 20-minute timer.
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4
Have teams swap answer sheets and check each other's work before showing the Teacher Key.
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5
Keep the Teacher Key hidden at the bottom of the page until Step 6 of the countdown.
For the Students
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1
Open your 6 case files with your team and review what was planned versus what actually happened.
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2
Write one natural, accurate sentence per file that binds the timeline together.
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3
You must use the exact grammar form displayed in the green pill on each card.
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4
Earn 1 bonus point for every Unit Word used accurately.
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5
Trade sheets, check another team's answers, tally the points, and celebrate the winners.
Timed Plan (20 Minutes Total)
Step 1
Hand out cards & assign roles.
Step 2
Read files & spot timeline clues.
Step 3
Draft target sentences for Files 1–3.
Step 4
Finish Files 4–6 & check Unit words.
Step 5
Swap sheets with a partner team.
Step 6
Check with key & tally final scores.
6 Case File Cards
The Mira Comic Release
Publishing division • File no. 771
The publisher fixed 1 June for the comic book by Mira.
It came out on 8 June.
The Tomas Studio Session
Broadcasting dispute • File no. 802
Tomas had his finger on the record button.
A lawyer phoned.
The Shop Identity Logo
Trademark expansion • File no. 319
In 2015 Ana drew a small logo for a friend's shop.
By 2020 it was on a thousand shops.
The Hale Choir Tour
Live performance rights • File no. 512
The Hale Choir planned a spring tour.
A licence dispute stopped it.
The Studio Ember Code
Software registry • File no. 964
Studio Ember planned to register its game by Friday.
The form arrived on Monday.
The Leo Online Sketch
Viral merchandising • File no. 148
Leo posted a drawing online for fun.
A toy company bought it a year later.
Team Answer Sheet
Scoring System
Target Grammar Form
Award 1 point for the correct grammatical use of the exact form required on the case file card.
Case Story Accuracy
Award 1 point when the sentence accurately reflects the real facts from the file, as verified and ticked by the peer team.
Unit Word Bonus
Award 1 bonus point for each Unit vocabulary word used naturally and correctly (e.g. patent, licence, infringe, trademark).
Sentence Starters
"Mira's comic book was due to..."
"Tomas was about to ... when..."
"The trademark logo Ana designed would later..."
"The Hale Choir was to embark on a tour until a licence dispute..."
"Studio Ember was going to have ... its game by Friday, but..."
"The drawing Leo posted for fun was to..."
Teacher Key & Common Errors
Official Model Sentences
"The comic book by Mira was due to come out on 1 June."
"Tomas was about to press the record button when a lawyer phoned."
"The small logo Ana drew in 2015 would later appear on a thousand shops."
"The Hale Choir was to go on a spring tour, but a licence dispute stopped it."
"Studio Ember was going to have registered its game by Friday, but the form arrived on Monday."
"The drawing Leo posted online for fun was to be bought by a toy company a year later."
Mistakes to Hear
- ❌ "was going to have register" Listen out for learners leaving out the -ed ending. Correct form: was going to have registered.
- ❌ "was about to phoned" Using a past form after to instead of the base verb. Correct form: was about to phone / press.
- ❌ Confusing "would later" Using would have instead of would later (would later appear).
Activity Variations
Sentence Starter Help
Provide the sentence starters printed directly on the answer sheet for groups needing support with structure.
Raw File Analysis
Teams construct the entire sentence from scratch using only the raw card notes and the 10-word vocabulary bank.
Double Word Challenge
Teams must integrate at least two Unit vocabulary words into each sentence while maintaining total grammatical accuracy.
The Legal Sequel
Fast groups write an immediate follow-up sentence explaining the legal consequence (e.g. issuing a takedown notice or claiming trademark infringement).
Closing Discussion Questions
Which case file could have gone better if the creators had checked the legal side earlier, and how?
Encourages discussion on Ana's logo or Leo's viral drawing.
Why do creators and artists frequently face unexpected licence disputes as their operations scale up?
Connects the Hale Choir dispute to commercial licensing reality.
In legal case storytelling, how does the nuance of "was about to" differ from "would later"?
Focuses on immediate interruption vs long-term retrospective outcome.
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