Congress extends copyright every time Disney throws money at them.
The Mickey Mouse Protection Act will reach its end in 2018. You can bet that Disney will dump millions into another extension. One potential source of influence against Disney and other supporters is software publishers. Present copyright terms for software copyright is pointless because of how quickly the programs become obsolete and unusable due to lack of hardware and OS support. Software publishers have no valid reason to extend copyright. Who will still be using Windows XP in 2096 when the copyright expires? Who will be using it in 2066? 2036? No one! The hardware to run the OS will be long gone with exception to a technology museum.
Unfortunately, the Senate has to approve both of those and when they figure out it means they can't accept bribes any more, they will kill it faster than patent reform.
Incorrect. The states can open a constitutional convention to create an amendment to ban financially influencing politicians. If 3/4 of the states approve of the amendment, then it by-passes congress and becomes part of our constitution.
Where there's a will, there's a relative.