Where To Find Public Domain Videos

Prelinger Archives Housed At Archiveorg

How to Find Public Domain Videos on Flickr

Prelinger Archives was founded in 1983 by Rick Prelinger in New York City. Over the next twenty years, it grew into a collection of over 60,000 “ephemeral” films…Prelinger Archives remains in existence, holding approximately 11,000 digitized and videotape titles and a large collection of home movies, amateur and industrial films acquired since 2002. Its primary collection emphasis has turned toward home movies and amateur films, with approximately 12,000 items held as of Spring 2015. Its goal remains to collect, preserve, and facilitate access to films of historic significance that haven’t been collected elsewhere.

Strings attached: If you need written permission to clear your footage, you might need to pay Getty for it. From Prelinger:

The Internet Archive does not provide written permission to use any material, and the user therefore assumes all risk when repurposing Prelinger footage. By way of contrast, when you license Prelinger clips from Getty Images, Getty Images will indemnify you against claims for copyright infringement relating to copyright in the footage clip.

How To Find Public Domain Video

You might know about public domain music, but what is public domain video, and how can you take advantage of it as a video professional without getting pulled into the undertow of legal terms? Before you go wild with public domain footage, be sure you understand how to find, use and credit it. Read on to learn the proper use of public domain video clips.

Can I Use Public Domain Videos For Commercial Use

All public domain videos can be used for both commercial and non-commercial projects, but you must approach using public domain videos for commercial purposes with caution. Crediting the author or providing the source from which you acquired the footage will reduce the likelihood of legal complications.

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How Do Videos Enter The Public Domain

In the United States, a video enters into the public domain under the following stipulations:

The footage was developed by a federal government employee for official purposes governments are obligated by law to make the footage public.
The author who produced the video has forfeited their copyright and decides to enter the footage into the public domain.
Any video clip enter the public domain 70 years after the death of the creator.

This list is not exhaustive, but the most common ways video footage enters the public space. Heres a list of conditions that would cause a video to age into the public domain. Please note that this only applies to the United States further research on this topic would be needed depending on the territory:

Any video made in 1924 or earlier
Videos made before 1977 that were published without a copyright notice
Videos made before 1989 that werent registered within five years of the date of publication
Videos published before 1964 if the copyright wasnt renewed 28 years later

Does it sound complicated? It is. Copyright laws have changed multiple times over the past 100 years, and are sure to change further.

Can I Use Public Domain Videos For Commercial Uses

Squirrel Peering Over Edge of Branch Picture

From a copyright perspective, Yes. You can use public domain video clips for commercial use including your own films, commercials, or other video content. You can even air public domain videos for free on a TV network. In fact, one of the reasons the movie Its a Wonderful Life became a holiday classic is because its image copyright wasnt renewed and it entered the public domain. TV networks then began to air it as a way to fill air time without paying extra fees.

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Best Public Domain Video Websites In 2022

Lets say you are a documentary filmmaker on a shoe-string budget. You cant afford to recreate that battle from World War 2, nor can you shell out big bucks for real battle scene footage.

Or you may be a blogger, making your first ad campaign for your site. You have no filming or editing expertise, but need to add to your talking-head footage to make your ad standout.

There are millions of video options that you can rip from the internet, so why not use one of those? For starters, you could face a hefty fine for copyright infringement.

How do you find free video footage without the worry of breaking the law? This article will answer all your public domain FAQs and tell you where to get worry-free film clips for your project.

Where Do I Find Public Domain Images?

Are Youtube Videos Public Domain

A YouTube video is automatically copyrighted to the person who uploads it. You cannot re-upload a video and claim it to be your own, but you can link to another persons YouTube video.

However, YouTube does have videos under different Creative Commons Licenses, including public domain. Click on Creative Commons under search filters and then type in your keyword search as usual. In the description of the video it will list what kind of CC License is attached.

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Nasa Image And Video Library

As youll notice, a lot of the best resources for public domain footage are government-run. Because of this, much of the footage is historical and outdated. However, if youre looking for high-quality, up-to-date footage , then the NASA Image and Video Library is for you.

In terms of public domain footage, I have probably had the most fun sifting through content from NASA. There are incredible time-lapses of earth, interesting training videos, and rockets. If these are the types of videos you need, the NASA Video Library is perfect for you.

The drawback of the NASA Image and Video library is that everything you find will be space-related. Additionally, the search tools are not as advanced as the Library of Congress or the Internet Archive, so it can be difficult to find the exact video you want.

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Ep. 111: How to Find Free Public Domain Video and Images

30 Best French Films Of All Time, Ranked

Public domain footage refers to any video which is not subject to copyright. Anyone can freely use such videos, without having to ask for permission. Videos can enter the public domain when the copyright protection expires or if the video was created by organisations like the government which is mostly not subject to copyright. Technically, all such videos can be used for commercial purposes. But you must be careful, as some videos may feature celebrities or contain third party intellectual property. This may lead to legal complications, so its best to avoid them. When using any public domain footage for commercial purposes, credit the creator or the source from which youre sourcing the footage to be safe. Weve put together some great resources/websites to help you source such public domain footage, without hassle for your documentary or project.

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What Are The Limitations Of Public Domain Video For Commercial Or Creative Projects

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Arguably, the biggest limitation of relying on public domain video clips is searching capabilities and selection.

For example, if your creative project needs B-roll of a crowded street, you might want to turn to existing footage so you dont have to capture that content yourself. If you want to use public domain video, you need to ensure the desired footage is officially in the public domain.

The films and other videos in the public domain arent always easy to find and download. When you do find them, you have to watch tons of footage to find exactly what you need. Although Wikipedia has a list of films in the public domain, it doesnt have a scene-by-scene breakdown to help you find what you need. If you were hoping to use a public domain video clip to save you the time of creating your own content, you might spend it all just digging through your options.

And you might not find anything to suit your project after hours of digging. Videos in the public domain are well-aged, which may or may not fit your overall creative vision. Lets go back to the example of B-roll of a crowded street. If youre working on a modern video about population density in cities, using black and white footage of Nashville, TN in 1963 probably isnt the best fit for your project. If youre working on a documentary about the civil rights movement, then it might work great for you.

Public Domain Versus Creative Commons

Public Domain

Images, videos and other content that you did not create may enhance your presentations. Yet, it is important to make sure that you are not violating anyone’s copyright. One strategy is to find public domain content to use.

“. . .no longer under copyright protection or failed to meet the requirements for copyright protection. Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the former copyright owner.”

Such works can be used without first seeking permission. This makes them ideal for many projects, particularly those extending beyond educational use.

Note: Even if a work is in the public domain, it is advisable to provide attribution. At a minimum, record the author for your records. This will allow you, and others, to find the original later if necessary.

Creative Commons

There may not always be something in the public domain that fits your needs. Creative Commons-licensed content can be a good alternative. When using CC-content, ensure that you correctly attribute it to the creator. There may be additional terms of the license the content is offered under, so double-check. You can find more information about this on the Creative Commons FAQ.

Note: A Creative Commons license, does not provide blanket permission to use the content without restraint. Remember, you must provide proper attribution and ensure your use does not violate the license.

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Resources To Find Public Domain Video Clips

Are you a student or indie videographer who is working on a project? Are you a teacher who wants to create informative media for your lessons? Do you work for a non-profit group and want to assemble interesting media packages for a conference? Are you working with a limited budget and wish to find worthwhile media resources for your projects?

Then you want to make use of public domain video clips. There are many reasons why you would want to plumb public domain footage whether for business presentations, educational purposes, artistic endeavors, or even personal work.

Before you delve into media commons, you should have an idea of what public domain videos youre searching for. Cobble together at least a rudimentary outline or list of key topics, people, and events. On the other hand, some prefer to sort through a media resource and come upon topics. Typically if you do have an outline in mind, it will help tighten your focus and make your process more efficient.

In a nutshell, you are looking for public domain videos that are available at no cost, and without having to ask for permission. Typically these could be produced by a government, or the creator of the footage has waived rights to its use and stated that it is for the public domain, or it is seventy years after the death of the copyright holder. Thus be careful about where you find material, and really make sure that this material IS in the public domain. Read the fine print!

National Park Service B

This resource provides access to public domain videos from National Park Service sites, including national parks, monuments, historic sites etc. All videos in the Grand Canyon B-Roll Video Index are in the public domain. The archive holds many videos showing scenic views of the Grand Canyon, Colorado River and more. They are free to use and download without permission. However, you cannot use the videos to imply that NPS endorses any product, service, organization, or person without receiving their permission.

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Public Domain Vs Royalty Free Vs Creative Commons

Chances are youve heard of royalty-free footage, public domain footage, and the creative commons. If not, these are different licenses that determine how you can use footage that isnt originally yours. All are extremely useful, though there are some important differences.Public Domain footage belongs to everyone. There are no restrictions. You will not have to license any rights, attribute anyone, or clear any legal barriers .Creative Commons footage is oftentimes free for your use. However, there may be restrictions. Most often, this will be a required attribution of some sort. While still useful, there are some legal restrictions, and it is important to watch out for.Royalty-Free footage, while still a great resource, requires a license to use. Therefore you will most often have to pay for this footage. However, this will be a one-time purchase , and you can use it for any project any number of times without restriction.

What Are Creative Commons Licenses

All Creative Commons licenses allow creators to maintain their copyright while allowing others to use their work.

There are different levels of Creative Commons Licenses, from all rights reserved to no rights reserved and everywhere in between. Some of the licenses allow for commercial use and some do not, while others allow for use only if the author is given credit.

There is also the Creative Commons Zero License, in which the owner of the work forfeits all rights, including attribution. All works with a CC0 license are considered public domain.

Creative Commons Vs Public Domain Footage

Some people confuse works licensed by Creative Commons with works that are in the public domain. If a work is in the public domain, that means anyone can use it for whatever reason they want. No one owns works that are in the public domain. In contrast, CC licenses are only applied to works that would otherwise be copyright-protected.

For creators who want to affirmatively place their works in the public domain to the extent possible, Creative Commons offers the CC0 no rights reserved license.

Its up to you to determine and follow the usage, licensing, and royalty restrictions on any image, film, or video you use in your projects. Ignorance of the law is no defense, so be sure to do your due diligence. Another important thing to remember is that just because some film or video footage is in the public domain doesnt mean that websites cant charge you for it.

Public Domain Search Sites And Collections

Prelinger ArchiveThis archive focuses on ephemeral films, which the site defines as advertising, educational, industrial, and amateur films. The collection includes a subset of home movies and has a variety of search filters that can help students find relevant footage for their projects.

Feature Films, from the Internet Archive Moving Image ArchiveThese public domain videos include feature films, short films, silent films, and trailers, such as the William Castle film House on Haunted Hill. The collection does include nudity and graphic images .

FedFlix, from the Internet Archive Moving Image Archive A collection of videos from the U.S. government, this archive includes a variety of historical movies as well as movies related to such areas as the military, the FDA, and law enforcement.

U.S. Government Agencies, on YouTube Many government agencies post their public domain videos on YouTube, making them widely accessible for student projects. Here are some examples that are worth sharing with students:

Students can embed videos from these collections into their projects, but they cannot download the videos without violating YouTubes Terms of Service .

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What Is A Public Domain Video

A public domain video is a video that has entered the public domain and is not subject to copyright because the copyright protection has expired, or the creator has forfeited their copyright and made it available to the public. This allows anyone to use a video clip without having to ask permission to do so. For example, some content produced by the government becomes free to use.

Best Public Domain Footage Sites

There are lots of sites you can use to search for stock video for your projects, both free and for purchase. In this article, well focus on sites that offer film and video that are in the public domain, giving you some resources to put together the best video project you can.

Most are free, but some may require a small feeand are likely far less expensive than purchasing stock footage that is not in the public domain.

1. PublicDomainFootage.com

PublicDomainFootage.com has a catalog of public domain archival stock footage and newsreels. Their archival and newsreel footage is organized by categories including entertainment, pop culture, religion, retro sports, and civil rights among others.

Youll pay to download the footage , and then you can use it in any of your projects.

2. Vimeo

You can search vimeo.com for files that include the Creative Commons public domain dedication, and then you can search within those results.

Confirm the CC0 license for any particular video on its main page by selecting the More link. An About popup will appear listing the videos title, uploader, date of upload, license, and tags. Look for the CC0 license icon in the license field.

3. Pond5

Pond5s Public Domain Project offers videos that are free for private and commercial use. In addition to public domain footage, you can also search for audio, images, and 3D models in the public domain.