Open Source Cinema - An Open Source Documentary Film about Copyright

Bigger in lobbying dollars, however, than the entire Recording Industry Association of America, is Disney. Between 1998-2004, they spent $24 million making sure Congress passed laws in their favour.

Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act was passed in 1998, extending copyright in the US from 50 years, to 75 years plus the life of the author (and 95 for corporate works). The Act became known as the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act", due to the fact that early Disney cartoons would have entered the public domain if it were not for the Act. Disney spent millions lobbying Congress for the act, thus preventing most of popular culture from entering the public domain, and solidifying corporate control of art.