Public domain catastrophe

Hi guys. I've just had an email from Creative Cow team, saying that Pond5 has launched the biggest pubblic domain archive, a collection of copyright-free multimedia content. As an editor I can say I'm happy for that: using the search engine of Pond5 is faster and better than using google to find some historic video for free, but as a contributor I'm thinking that the historic part of my footage collection will fall in sales.
Many times while editing for my own business I chose the cheapest videos (or even the free ones), and many times when I worked for national TV, especially in small projects, I was asked not to spend too much money in stock footage. That's why I think this is not good for us and even for P5 as a Company. Of course National Geographic and History will still choose the content they like and not the cheap one, but I'm quite sure 95% of sales here are made by low budget production.

Time to find a new niche.

Hi there,

Not to fear! Your concerns are valid, it's understandable that some artists might worry that the Public Domain Project could somehow cannibalize their sales. But please rest assured, we've put A LOT of work and effort into this thing, we've done our homework several times over. We wouldn't have done this if we didn't think it would benefit everyone. This is going to draw a lot of traffic to Pond5, and more traffic means more buyers, and more buyers means more sales across the board.

Pond5 and similar sites are for CREATIVE people. If someone can't take a public domain clip and do something original with it to create a unique product, then they shouldn't be in the business. Quite honestly, I think this will make AE template people happy and anyone who does animation.

A few weeks ago I have uploaded two clips made from modified public domain content. The clips were rejected because "We do not accept public domain anymore..."

Shall I upload the clips again? I charge money for the work I have invested in these clips.

Make sure you put in a curator note that your work is derivative. And make sure that your change is significant (spell it out in your description.

As a contributor, I think anything that strengthens the audience numbers on P5 is good, good for the majority, that said i feel for those whom use Public Domain footage, unless unique or heavily modified, but the reality of it is, you've always been competing with a free footage availability.

As a purchaser, no comment is really needed to express the ability to access public domain footage ... for free.

NM

PS.. love the new menu drop downs, 4K content owners will love that.

They reject PD whatsoever, including derivative work.

Not according to Jason in a thread in the artists forum area. They are now accepting derivative works.

I will try again. Thanks.