Why was the act named the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act?
Rep. Mary Bono, the widow of the late Rep. Sonny Bono, appointed in his stead, spoke in favor of the bill. She stated that he and she believed that copyright ought to last forever. However, she said, she had been informed that that would be unconstitutional, so she would settle for forever minus one day. In the end, she settled for an additional 20 years. • So, by naming the bill after a songwriter and entertainer it seemed to indicate that it favored songwriters and authors? Yes, ASCAP and other songwriter groups had lobbied against the exemptions for bars and restaurants, and so were not in favor of the bill at all, as amended. When the bill’s passage was kept quiet it was difficult for anyone to lobby against the President’s signature. • But doesn’t the act give more incentives to authors and songwriters to produce more creative works? It is hard to see how. Can you think of anyone who would benefit from royalties in the period between 50 and 70 years after her death? Perhaps distan
