Final answer:
The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act extended corporate-owned copyright terms from 75 to 95 years post-publication, and individual-owned terms from 50 to 70 years post-author's death, affecting many works including Mickey Mouse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act significantly influenced the duration of copyright protection within the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1998, this Act extended copyright terms for works owned by companies from 75 years to 95 years after publication. For works owned by individuals, it increased the duration from 50 years to 70 years after the author's death. This extension greatly impacted the copyright status of culturally iconic creations like Mickey Mouse, ensuring these works remained protected and not freely reproducible for a longer period. In total, the extension affected approximately 400,000 books, movies, and songs, preserving the exclusive rights of copyright holders.