Sonny Bono

Definition

Sonny Bono was an American singer, songwriter, producer, and politician who is best known for his work in the music industry and his role in shaping copyright law in the United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sonny Bono co-wrote and performed the hit song 'I Got You Babe' with his wife, Cher, in the 1960s.
2. Bono served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 until his death in 1998.
3. The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, passed in 1998, extended the term of copyright protection in the United States by 20 years.
4. The act was widely criticized for being influenced by the Walt Disney Company's desire to prevent the copyrights on Mickey Mouse and other iconic characters from expiring.
5. Bono's advocacy for the extension of copyright terms was influenced by his experiences in the music industry and his belief that artists should be able to profit from their work for longer periods of time.

Review Questions

• Explain the significance of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act and its impact on copyright law in the United States.
  • The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, passed in 1998, extended the term of copyright protection in the United States from 50 years after the author's death to 70 years. This law was heavily influenced by the Walt Disney Company's desire to prevent the copyrights on Mickey Mouse and other iconic characters from expiring. The act was widely criticized for favoring corporate interests over the public domain and for limiting the availability of creative works for future generations. However, Bono's advocacy for the extension of copyright terms was influenced by his experiences in the music industry and his belief that artists should be able to profit from their work for longer periods of time.
• Analyze the relationship between Sonny Bono's work in the music industry and his role in shaping copyright law.
  • As a successful musician and songwriter, Sonny Bono had firsthand experience with the challenges and benefits of copyright protection. His work in the music industry, particularly his collaboration with his wife Cher on the hit song 'I Got You Babe,' likely shaped his perspective on the importance of ensuring that artists can continue to profit from their creative works for an extended period of time. This experience, combined with his later career in politics, led Bono to advocate for the Copyright Term Extension Act, which extended the term of copyright protection in the United States. While the act was criticized for favoring corporate interests, Bono's motivation was rooted in his belief that artists deserved to be compensated for their contributions to the creative landscape.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act on the public domain and the availability of creative works.
  • The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act has had significant long-term implications on the public domain and the availability of creative works. By extending the term of copyright protection from 50 years after the author's death to 70 years, the act has delayed the entry of many works into the public domain, where they would be freely available for use, study, and adaptation. This has been criticized as limiting the ability of future generations to build upon and remix existing creative works, stifling innovation and cultural progress. Additionally, the act has been seen as favoring the interests of large corporations, such as the Walt Disney Company, over the broader public good. The long-term effects of this law on the creative landscape and the public's access to cultural heritage remain a subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny.

Related terms

Copyright Term Extension Act: Also known as the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, this law extended the term of copyright protection in the United States from 50 years after the author's death to 70 years.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA): A law that criminalizes the circumvention of digital rights management (DRM) technologies and imposes liability on service providers for copyright infringement by their users.

Mickey Mouse Protection Act: An informal name for the Copyright Term Extension Act, referring to the fact that it was passed to prevent the copyrights on Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters from expiring.