In 2022, Senator Josh Hawley introduced a measure to strip Disney of all its copyright protections. This bill called the Copyright Clause Restoration Act would reinstate the limit on copyrighted material to 56 years. This new law would be retroactive. This means that any work that has been under copyright for over 56 years would become public domain immediately. Any number of computing innovations could become public domain in just a few years under this act.
What might be the social and economic impact of the Copyright Clause Restoration Act?
The social impact of the Copyright Clause Restoration Act could be significant. By making a wide array of creative works and computing innovations public domain, the act could lead to increased access to and availability of these materials for the general public. This could potentially stimulate creativity, innovation, and the spread of knowledge and information.
On the economic front, the impact could be more complex. While some argue that making copyrighted material public domain could lead to increased competition, lower prices, and new business opportunities, others believe that it could harm industries that rely heavily on copyright protection, such as the entertainment and software industries. Additionally, some companies and creators may be less incentivized to invest in creating new works if they fear their creations will quickly enter the public domain.
Overall, the Copyright Clause Restoration Act could have both positive and negative implications for society and the economy, and would likely spark significant debate and discussions among stakeholders in the creative industries.