In a move that started as a project to save money on film storage, British Pathe has put more than 3,500 hours of its old newsreels online, creating what it says is the largest online digital news archive. The move . . .
In a move that started as a project to save money on film storage, British Pathe has put more than 3,500 hours of its old newsreels online, creating what it says is the largest online digital news archive. The move adds fresh perspective to the debate over online digital copyright management.

Unlike the "ephemeral" films in the Prelinger Archives, which can be downloaded and used freely, British Pathe newsreels are still under copyright. British copyright expires 70 years after the death of the last surviving contributor to the work.

As such, Pathe has the right to charge for the use of the clips and to regulate how they may be used. Users can download low-resolution watermarked previews from Pathe's website for free. High-resolution clips for PowerPoint-type presentations given before a limited audience can be licensed for one year for £50 (about $78); clips that will be posted on the Web are licensed for £100 (about $157).

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