And then in 1998 Congress passed the so-called “Sonny Bono” Copyright Term Extension Act extending the term of copyright to 95 years for work-for-hire works and life plus 70 years for other works and you wouldn’t believe what Sonny Bono’s widow Congresswoman Mary Bono said about how long copyright terms should last.
“Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution. … As you know, there is also [then-MPAA president] Jack Valenti’s proposal for term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress.”
Mary Bono
The line in the Constitution that justifies the existence of copyright law in the U.S. specifically requires that copyright last “for limited times.” The “proposal for term to last forever less one day” Mary Bono referenced basically meant that Congress should extend copyright every time anything ever gets too close to entering the public domain.
And then in 1998 Congress passed the so-called “Sonny Bono” Copyright Term Extension Act extending the term of copyright to 95 years for work-for-hire works and life plus 70 years for other works and you wouldn’t believe what Sonny Bono’s widow Congresswoman Mary Bono said about how long copyright terms should last.
…I wanna know
You asked for it. ;)
“Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution. … As you know, there is also [then-MPAA president] Jack Valenti’s proposal for term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress.”
The line in the Constitution that justifies the existence of copyright law in the U.S. specifically requires that copyright last “for limited times.” The “proposal for term to last forever less one day” Mary Bono referenced basically meant that Congress should extend copyright every time anything ever gets too close to entering the public domain.
Well it clearly worked for the guy in the picture