This: "It was a windfall to the families and corporations that owned these lucrative copyrights. " is the key point of extending copyright. In the words of Chris Sprigman: "There's no evidence suggesting that a longer term is going to produce any more art, literature," Sprigman says. "The only reason to extend the term is to give private benefits to companies like Disney or Time Warner that have valuable properties like Mickey Mouse or famous films." But copyright, he says, is "not supposed to be about corporate welfare for Disney." Over the next five years, we'll find out if Congress agrees."

Fingers crossed that what's good for the citizens outweighs the perceived pocket book needs of the corporate elite.