Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act

In my opinion, I believe that the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act is a bad attempt by those that are already rich, to unrealistically lengthen the amount of time something is copyrighted. To me, it’s makes no sense at all to have something stay under copyright after the author has passed. I know some would argue that the author wants something that will bring about a lucrative future for their children, but I think when that person passes so should their copyrighted material. The people that will benefit, the survivors of the author, have no hand in creating or establishing whatever is under copyright agreement.

Although as a writer myself, I could see where the authors of the copyrighted material would like their work to carry-on a profit filled life while their families benefitted from it. I’m sure there is nothing more satisfying than to know your work is taking care of the people you leave behind. I could also see where the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act is trying to be beneficial to the author. But what I don’t understand is the length of time that the act is adding on.

Also the fact that copyrighted material that was close to being public domain that has now been extended is already paying off huge dividends to whomever’s name was attached to that piece of work. This Act hardly seems fair now that many publications that have become free domain are also not benefitting by the extension. It seems the act is only benefitting those works that were specifically covered by the effective dates.

There could be many arguments made of why the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act is right or wrong, but I feel like in this case there is no right or wrong; only rich and poor. This timely Act was reinstated in a time where it benefitted certain copyrights at certain times to lengthen a copyright law that has been established. I see no real beneficial reasoning for this act to continue. I for one hopes this act get overturned by a new act that would put these works into the public domain when they were originally suppose to enter into the domain.