1. Who hosts these files? (disclaimer)
4. How do I watch full screen?
5. Are there other similar resources?
6. I want to use material featured on this site. How?
7. I want have my film listed on this site. How?
8. I have problems playing the videos. Help!
9. Why have some videos been removed?
10. Who updates this site and how did it all start?
None of the audio/visual content is hosted on this site. All media is embedded from other sites such as Google Video, YouTube. Therefore; this site has no control over the copyright issues of the streaming media.
All issues concerning copyright violations should be aimed at the sites hosting the material. This site does not host any of the streaming media and the owner has not uploaded any of the material to the video hosting servers. Anyone can find the same content on Google Video or YouTube by them selves.
The owner of this site cannot know which movies, documentaries or cartoons are in public domain, which has been uploaded to e.g. google video by the owner and which has been uploaded without permission, and is therefore willing to remove any violating material immediately upon request. The copyright owner must further contact the source if he wants his material off the Internet completely.
Many of the old movie are in public domain. Note that most of the newer videos are probably not in public domain.
"When a work's copyright or patent restrictions expire, it enters the public domain and may be used by anyone for any purpose." read more on wikipedia
From Archive.org:
"If the work was made in 1923 or earlier, it is probably public domain and can be uploaded. NOTE! Restored versions of the film or new soundtracks for silent films can have more recent copyrights that are still valid - usually a copyright notice for a new soundtrack or restoration will appear in the film.
For works made from 1923 to 1949, post a question to the movie forum on this site [at archive.org] before you upload. The copyright could have been renewed and there isn't a way online to check a film's copyright status.
For works made from 1950 to 1963, you can check the title at the Library of Congress Copyright Database for copyright renewals: http://www.copyright.gov/records/cohm.html . This will list copyright renewals for most films."
A video may fall under public domain if: (1) the term of copyright for the video has expired; (2) the author failed to satisfy statutory formalities to perfect the copyright or (3) the video is a work of the U.S. Government.
Related links:
The Public-Domain Movie Database
Proof of Public Domain
Union for the Public Domain
U.S. copyright Office
To download a video click the google video button, then choose go to google video. Once you are on google video click the "Download"-button.
You can download a video and the Google Video Player to your computer at the same time. Here's how:
Search on Google Video and select the video you'd like to download.
Or use this Firefox Ad-on - "Download videos from Youtube, Google, Metacafe, iFilm, Dailymotion, Pornotube... and other 60+ video sites ! And all embedded objects on a webpage (movies, mp3s, flash, quicktime, etc) ! Directly !"
Or go to keepvid.com or Video Downloader and follow the instructions. Very easy.
You should only download movies that are in public domain or open source.
To view a video in full screen click the google video button, then choose go to google video. Once you are on google video click the full screen button located beside the volume control.
Or, follow these steps:
To return to the original size, please click on the reduce screen size button on the bottom right hand corner of the playback window.
Archive.org - "This collection contains thousands of videos which range from classic full-length movies, to daily alternative news broadcasts, to user-uploaded videos of every genre. We hope you enjoy this vast and diverse collection!"
Publicdomaintorrents.com - "Public Domain Movie Torrents hosts a wide variety of movies now in the public domain that you can download for free using BitTorrent technology. Many for PDA iPod PSP and other mobile devices."
The Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA) is a non-profit professional association established to advance the field of moving image archiving by fostering cooperation among individuals and organizations concerned with the acquisition, preservation, exhibition and use of moving image materials.
Footage.net - "Since 1994, FOOTAGE.net has been the premiere stock footage resource to reach the trade's best stock footage sources - news, creative, archival, and RF. Now find better content faster than ever before."
6. I want to use material featured on this site. How?
Do not ask me to send you material - I don't have any.
You can only use material that is in public domain, open source or published under CCL (creative commons license). Use archive.org and openflix.com to verify which of the material is in public domain.
Use these sites:
- Archive.org - Study the site and read their FAQ.
- OpenFlix.com - "OpenFlix makes a good faith effort to determine the United States public domain status of movies listed in our directory."
- The Public-Domain Movie Database - "Created to assist people in their search for public domain movies and to develop a better understanding of the public domain laws, this database is intended to serve as a source for this need."
- Creativecommons.org - "Enabling the legal sharing and reuse of cultural, educational, and scientific works"
- Spinxpress.com - "The best way to search for Creative Commons licensed media."
Do not ask me to send you material - I don't have any. Use the sites above.
7. I want have my film listed on this site. How?
If you are the copyright holder, just upload the film to Google Video and send me the link.
8. I have problems viewing the streaming videos. Help!
(Note: If the screen is blank and nothing happens the video has probably been removed)
If the video plays but suddenly stops, try moving the video timeline pointer past
the point where it stops.Go to Google Video Help Center
Get the latest Windows Media Player
Get the latest Flash Player
Get the DivX Codec
Get the DivX PlayerDownload Firefox. I use it and I have no problems:
Still having problems? There's nothing more I can do about it. You can further post your problem in the Forum, maybe someone out there knows a solution.
9. Why have some videos been removed?
They have been removed by Google Video, YouTube or a similar video hosting service by any number of reasons. There's nothing I can or will do about it.
10. Who updates this site and how did it all start?
My name is Jon (based in Europe) and I'm the webmaster of this site. It all started back in summer 2006 when I found Night of the Living Dead on Google Video. I then started searching for more movies in the public domain and found a whole bunch and decided to put them all on one webpage. That webpage has now grown into a big site with movies, documentaries, cartoons, tv-shows and entertainment all found freely online.
11. How do I donate?
You can donate through PayPal by clicking the button: