Oddbean

The MPAA/RIAA, in their efforts to stem the flow of piracy, "lobbied" and bribed their way into the statue books to try to stop people sharing files. The CEOs of companies got together to form associations for this purpose, and they were successful to an extent. They also bought special laws to extend Copyright lengths; the "Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act": The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA), often referred to simply as the Sonny Bono Act, was enacted in 1998. It amended the United States Copyright Act, extending the duration of copyright protection in the United States. The Act is named after Sonny Bono, the entertainer and U.S. Congressman who advocated for the legislation before his death. Key Provisions of the Act: 1. Extended Copyright Term: The most significant change was the extension of copyright protection. Under the CTEA: • For works created by an individual, the term of copyright was extended from the life of the author plus 50 years to the life of the author plus 70 years. • For works made for hire, anonymous works, or pseudonymous works, the term was extended from 75 years to 95 years from the date of publication, or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever is shorter. 2. Rationale: The extension aligned U.S. copyright law more closely with European Union standards, which already had a 70-year term. Supporters argued that it would protect the economic interests of copyright holders and provide more incentive for the creation of new works. 3. Criticism: The Act was controversial, with opponents arguing that it was primarily a benefit to large media corporations who held rights to older works, rather than encouraging the creation of new works. It was often referred to derisively as the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act” because one of its effects was to delay the entry of early Mickey Mouse films into the public domain. 4. Impact on Public Domain: One of the major criticisms is that the Act delayed the entry of works into the public domain, potentially stifling the availability of cultural works for educational and creative purposes. Legal Challenges: • The Act was challenged in court, most notably in the case of Eldred v. Ashcroft (2003). The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the CTEA, ruling that Congress had the authority to extend the term of existing copyrights. The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act has had a lasting impact on U.S. copyright law, significantly delaying when many works will enter the public domain. The CEOs of music and film companies had no problem corrupting people and manipulating the State for their own ends for money. This is exactly what needs to happen now on a global scale with the prohibition on arresting CEOs providing Social Media services to the public. It took coordinated and cooperative action to make the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act happen. It will take similar coordinated action to stop the threats and abuses of CEOs. And if you think this is just about Social Media companies, you are insane. Gambling CEOs have already been arrested simply for travelling, and that is where everything their companies do is 100% legal. This is a big problem, and something must be done about it.