What is the Mickey Mouse Protection Act?

The Mickey Mouse Protection Act, officially known as the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, extended the duration of copyright protection for works in the United States. Specifically, it added 20 years to the copyright term, allowing works created before 1978 to be protected for a total of 95 years from publication. The act was nicknamed after Mickey Mouse, as it aimed to protect the character from entering the public domain. This legislation was heavily influenced by lobbying from corporations like Disney, which sought to prolong their exclusive rights to iconic characters and works.