No more Public Domain?

For starters. I do not buy cheapie videos of other people releases of PD footage. I buy, restore and digitize them for the best quality available. I use both 16mm and 35mm release prints, camera original reversals and negatives. I never sell my original "film" copies and keep them in archival conditions to make sure they last longer than I do. I am sure there are folks that go the cheapie route. But the picture quality is just terrible... unless a customer is looking for that particular look. It's just so roulette with getting clips approved. One Curator says one thing, the other says the total opposite. Not to mention there is a ton of PD stuff, that is on P5. And it sells well. Banging head against the wall.

It really doesn't matter how perfect you restore them or how cheap and poorly done others are doing. P5 policy (although not enforced) has been for a long time no public domain. If you own the one and only 8mm or 16mm tape and it has not been into public domain that is a different matter. Go along with it or do the "fair use" requirements. A professional restoration changes nothing. Some of the PD stuff here the artist company may own distribution rights. Making a copy from a downloaded web site just doesn't make it right. Good luck.