The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA) was enacted in 1998 and extended the term of copyright for every work in the United Stated for an additional 20 years. As a result, the copyright term equaled the life of the creator plus 70 years and included also works that were published already. As the Act was enacted just before the original Mickey Mouse cartoon, Steamboat Willie, would have fallen into the public domain, it is was also commonly referred to as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
“Magical Steamboat Willie” by JD Hancock is licensed under CC BY
