The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA) is enacted, extending the reach of Copyright act of 1976 by 20 years. While copyright terms vary internationally, in the United States this extension halted the release of previous copyright materials created in 1923 and onwards (not to be retroactive in nature) from entering the public domain. The act unanimously passed the Senate after clearing a House vote, leading to increased debate over the constitutional freedom of creation, the copyright duration of artists as creators, and its impact on open access.
Tom Bell graph depicting the history of copyright term duration (years) over time (1790-2008). Original image: Tom Bell . CC BY-SA 3.0″,via Wikimedia Commons.
