## Owning the Infinite

When a character like Mickey Mouse (Steamboat Willie) was supposed to enter the public domain in 1984, then 2003, and finally 2024, the law changed. This was not an accident.

### FAQ

**Q: How does lobbying for copyright help the economy?**
A: It doesn't help the economy; it helps the owner. Every year a character remains under private copyright, the owner can charge licensing fees to anyone using the image. If the character entered the public domain, any t-shirt maker or filmmaker could use it for free, lowering prices for consumers and increasing creative output. By spending $5M on lobbying to extend copyright by 20 years, a corporation can protect $1 Billion in future royalty streams. It is one of the highest ROI investments in the corporate world.