The Copyright Claws

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution, known as the Copyright Clause, empowers the United States Congress:

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.

This has been completely subverted due to successful
bribesdonationsby the Music Corporations. Sonny Bono, who was the most outrageous of the
company puppetslobbyists, claimed he wanted to make copyright extend by a year, then a dozen, then a hundred, a million, ... eternity.

He envisaged a future when the last weeping remnants of humanity would beg for the right to access the fruits of their own labours - and he, as the avatar of Corporate Thought, could laugh as they grovelled before him.. and say the word that would damn them. NO.

This surprised the reporter, who hadn't quite expected the ground to crack; and a demonic chorus to erupt, but they timidly pointed out that eternity would in fact be in violation of the Constitution.

Sonny fumed, some say literally, and gnashed his teeth. But then an answer came..

Then I shall make it...ETERNITY MINUS A DAY!

And at that, the reporter's knew despair - and Sonny feasted eagerly on his defenceless soul...


(Senator Bono pictured below, no other images survive)

There is a phrase (do not speak it) - terrible and malevolent - that is whispered in the secret charnel houses under all the cities, by forms too monstrous to contemplate.

Copyright Term Extension Act

Do not say it out loud.
Do not say it thrice.

Or he will come.

And for every public performance of "Happy Birthday", he will make you pay, oh yes...