copyright duration and the mickey mouse curve. (n.d.). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/derekkhanna/2014/02/03/50-disney-movies-based-on-the-public-domain/?sh=13e57055329c
In 1909, the US Copyright Act was revised, and covers works up to January 1st 1978. It expanded what was protected in the act to now include all works of authorship. It also doubled the terms of protection, going from 14 to 28, with a possible 28 year renewal.
In 1976, the US Copyright Act was revised again, covering works from January 1, 1978 to present. This time the change was pushed both by rapid technological changes and the anticipated impact on copyright infringment, and the US expectations to soon joun the Berne Convention.
The Berne Convention was a uniting of Soverign countries coming together to try to regulate copyright laws that was established in the late 1800s. The US joined in 1988.
This act extended the term of protection from 28 years, to life of the creator, plus 50 years, and comissioned work was for 75 years.
The act also established fair use, first sale doctrines, and the right for photocopying at the library without permission for use of knowledge
In 1998, the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act was passed which extended copyright term by an additional 20 years.
It'd widley theorized that this act was pushed by Disney to prevent Mickey Mouse from falling into public domain
Because of this act and the built up extensions, no works passed into the public domain between 1998 and 2019
