Legal Definitions - Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act

The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act is a United States federal law that significantly lengthened the duration of copyright protection for many creative works. Enacted in 1998, this law added an additional 20 years to existing copyright terms.

Specifically, for works created by individual authors and published in the U.S. on or after January 1, 1978, the copyright term was extended from the life of the author plus 50 years to the life of the author plus 70 years. For works created before 1978, such as those made for hire or by corporations, the copyright term was generally extended to 95 years from the date of original publication or registration.

This Act is named in honor of Congressman Sonny Bono, who advocated for the extension and passed away before the bill became law.

• Example 1: A Novel Published in 1990

  Imagine a novelist who published their most famous book in 1990 and passed away in 2010. Before the Sonny Bono Act, the copyright on their book would have expired in 2060 (life + 50 years). However, due to the Act, the copyright now extends until 2080 (life + 70 years), meaning the author's heirs or estate will control the rights for an additional two decades.

• Example 2: A Classic Film Released in 1965

  Consider a major film studio that released a beloved movie in 1965. Under the copyright laws prior to the Sonny Bono Act, this film, as a corporate work, would have entered the public domain in 2040 (75 years from publication). With the extension, its copyright protection was prolonged, and the film will now remain under copyright until 2060 (95 years from publication), allowing the studio to continue earning revenue from it for an additional 20 years.

• Example 3: A Popular Song from 1935

  Suppose a popular song was first published in 1935. Before the Sonny Bono Act, if it was a work for hire, its copyright would have expired in 2010 (75 years from publication), at which point anyone could use it freely. However, the Act extended its copyright term by 20 years, meaning the song remained under copyright protection until 2030 (95 years from publication). This prevented the song from entering the public domain for an additional two decades, preserving the rights of the copyright holders.