Congressional Rep Mary Bono on the Constitution

In a Law.com article on the Edlred v. Ashcroft case, Victoria Slid-Flor offers Mary Bono's comment on her work on the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act:

"Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever," but added, "I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution." She proposed the change from 50 years past the creator's death to life plus 70 years and noted that Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association of America, had suggested a term of "forever less one day."

The more optimistic aspects of the article (which are actually the focal point) include discussion of Justice Breyer's anti extension stance) and Larry Lessig's quip about the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act." - goto