Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has managed to draw huge attention to legislation that is unlikely to get anywhere: A bill that targets Disney by reversing copyright protection for major media conglomerates.
Hawley, considered a potential candidate for president in 2024, unveiled on Tuesday the Copyright Restorement Act, which will restore copyright protection to a maximum of 56 years.
This is the latest effort to target The Walt Disney Co. after it came out against the Florida Parental Rights Bill, which opponents called the Don’t Say Gay Bill. Gov. Ron DeSantis, another presidential candidate in 2024 who deprived Disney of a special tax district that covers Walt Disney World. Disney has not commented on the reaction.
In a press release, Hawley said, “The era of Republican alms for big business is over. Thanks to Congress’ special copyright protection, awakened corporations like Disney have made billions as they increasingly succumb to awakened activists. It’s time to take away Disney’s special privileges and open a new era of creativity and innovation. ”
The legislation will apply only to amusement and theme park companies with a market capitalization of more than $ 150 billion. The bill does include a provision to postpone implementation for up to 10 years.
The current copyright law provides corporations with copyright protection for 95 years from publication. The term of copyright has been extended several times, most recently when 20 years were added in 1998 as part of the Sony Bono Copyright Extension Act.
Disney’s copyright on Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse’s first appearance, expires next year. Although there has been some speculation that the company will seek further extensions, they are likely to face opposition to such a move even before the Republican Party’s latest efforts to target the company in the cultural wars.
Hawley’s bill is unlikely to make progress, and not just because Democrats control the Senate. The industry has garnered support for its lobbying for copyright on both sides of the aisle. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who chairs the Senate Judicial Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, and Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC), its ranking member, are seen as major stimulants for the entertainment industry when it comes to fighting piracy and strengthening copyright protection. Both were honored by the Film Association in March.
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