I'm sorry for the lack of moderatory response to the very valid questions on the theme. A bit of recent adjustments and absences have left this adrift.

However, for an 'official ruling':

The intent of the theme of this month's contest is to interpret Shakespearean sonnets (specifically qua "those sonnets written by William Shakespeare") in a way that pays them homage, but is also of you. That may mean a strict adherence to one of the forms he used, working within technical constraints to create a meaningful accomplishment in the image of the Master...and it may mean use of another form, or absolutely no adherence to convention. The content and language may be period and germane, or it may be an imitation, re-imagining, response or a rebuttal to a Shakespearean sonnet.

Ultimately, it is important to keep in mind that judging will be done by your peers, not by moderators: our purpose in providing a theme is to inspire, not to limit, to define -- or to attempt to invalidate. How much adherence to form or content will matter vis-a-vis other poetic qualities will be -- must be -- determined individually by those peers.

I hope this clarifies things, but if not, please feel free to ask me further questions, either here or via pm.