No more Public Domain?

All of my recent submissions have been rejected. The reason given in the message that was sent to me was "We can no longer accept Public Domain footage that is uploaded without substantial re-working"... I'm not sure what substantial re-working means. Or when this new policy came into being. I've uploaded nearly 300 clips in the past with no problems. Any input on this would be appreciated. Thanks

I'm sure it's a legal thing.
Re-working means if you upload the PD footage as an element in a larger video not the PD footage itself.

Go with it and submit something you created.

Could re-working mean a digital restoration of some sort?De-scratching de-spotting,de-noising etc?

No, not really. After looking at your portfolio it appears that many are captures of actual commercial movies, shows, advertisements etc. Much different than home movies. P5 has stated a long time ago that public domain was not accepted but you are right they continued to accept them.

Look at the USA "Fair Use" laws as well as "Creative works" and "derivative works". These will explain in detail what you can do.

I wonder that it's not strictly forbidden to sell captures from movies!?

Here is a great example of substantial re-working.
Put some giant aliens in your PD footage and upload.
https://vimeo.com/107454954#at=2

I've never understood this whole "public domain" use in stock media.

Let's say they didn't change the acceptance policy as the thread creator says. Could I just buy public domain movies on DVD at a dollar store and rip, chop 'em up, and sell 'em as stock? Could I just download any piece of footage that can verified as "public domain", regardless of source, and sell it in my own account? Sure looks like that's all some of these contributors are doing. What am I missing?

And if this was true, and the rules have changed a bit, how much re-working would be defined as "substantial"?

I mean I could theoretically find a contributor that sells these kind of public domain clips for $5-10 here on Pond5, buy them, upload them to my own account, and sell them myself for a higher price with better keywords, hoping the customer doesn't search too deep, right?

Why wouldn't Pond5 have a company contributor account where these all get uploaded to and sold, restrict the uploads from others and keep 100%?

Is there some unwritten step or rule that says I have to source it from reels of aged film to do this?

I also never understood this public domain stuff specially those that come from the government. Why buy here when you get it for free? Can many artist sell the same identical public domain clip? What happens if each and every one has the same atomic bomb explosion? Sometimes I see clips that are claimed to be Public Domain but they are of recent events that I have seen on the news.

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.