Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (P.L. 105-298, October 27, 1998) amends
U.S. Code title 17, chapter 3

What the DMCA and the Copyright Term Extension Act Mean to the Library Community, Primer by Arnold Lutzker, February 5, 1999

Related Legislation and Court Cases

Legislation

Public Domain Enhancement Act

• Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) introduced the Public Domain Enhancement Act of 2003 (H.R. 2601) [PDF] in the US House of Representatives, June 25, 2003
• ARL, AALL, and ALA letter in support of H.R. 2601, June 24, 2003 [PDF]

Court Cases

A federal judge ruled that Congress has the authority to extend copyright protections without interference from the courts. See "Court Nixes Lawsuit Fighting Copyright Law," by John Borland on CNET News.com, November 24, 2004

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Eldred v. Ashcroft on October 9, 2002

• On January 15, 2003, the Supreme Court upheld the Copyright Term Extension Act by a 7-2 majority. Justice Ginsburg delivered the majority opinion [PDF]. Dissenting opinions were written by Justice Stevens [PDF] and Justice Breyer [PDF].

• Transcript of oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, October 9, 2002 [PDF]

• Amici curiae briefs filed in Eldred v. Ashcroft, May 20, 2002
• Amici curiae brief, AALL, AHA, ALA, ARL, et al., May 20, 2002 [PDF]; and see press release, May 21, 2002
• For additional briefs, see Eldred.cc
• Supreme Court grants certiorari, February 19, 2002; for background and briefs, see Eldred.cc.
• Amici curiae brief, AALL, ALA, ARL, et al., December 19, 2001

Library and Archive Exception in Digital Millenium Copyright Act (P.L. 105-304, October 28, 1998) Amends U.S. Code Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 108 [h], among Others

• Reply comments of library associations on the comments on notice to libraries and archives, April 1, 1999 [PDF]
• Library community comments before the U.S. Copyright Office, February 16, 1999