AfterDawn: News

Downhill Battle working to save Eyes on the Prize

Eyes on the Prize is the documentary series that chronicles the American civil rights movement, but it can no longer be shown on TV or released on DVD. Costly archival footage that appeared in the film was licensed for only a set number of years, and those licenses have mostly expired. So now, because of this, only old VHS copies still exist in school libraries. The film's production company, Blackside, is investigating the cost to renew the rights. However, it appears that Downhill Battle is once again demonstrating the potential of P2P as they are attempting to save this series.

They are now making this series available for Download using BitTorrent and also are attempting to organise public screenings. Downhill Battle's David Moore said distributing the film amounts to protected fair-use. 16 screenings are now posted on Downhill Battles site. Blackside however don't seem too happy with Downhill Battle's effort. A lawyer for Blackside told Wired News that Downhill Battle has no legitimate fair use claim, and said Backside will pursue all legal remedies to stop illegal downloading of Eyes on the Prize.



Sources:
PublicRadio.org
Downhill Battle

Written by: James Delahunty @ 28 Jan 2005 9:59

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• 3 comments

• GrayArea

  Making an important historical doucument available to the public does not seem to be the main objective of Blackside. Sounds like gettin' paid is a few rungs higher on the food chain for them... I don't know the full story but it seems like they didn't give a rats back end about it until they got a wiff of the ol' "commercial potential". As long as there's a few rubes out there with too much money and not enough sense that are willing to part with a buck for some old chunk of media (that in many cases should be public domain) fair use does not have a chance in hell, at least not while Dick is driving...

  31.1.2005 09:36 #1

• GrayArea

  Making an important historical doucument available to the public does not seem to be the main objective of Blackside. Sounds like gettin' paid is a few rungs higher on the food chain for them... I don't know the full story but it seems like they didn't give a rats back end about it until they got a wiff of the ol' "commercial potential". As long as there's a few rubes out there with too much money and not enough sense that are willing to part with a buck for some old chunk of media (that in many cases should be public domain) fair use does not have a chance in hell, at least not while Dick is driving...

  31.1.2005 09:39 #2

• banjobill

  The Fair Use Doctrine of Copyright Law goes beyond the mere set of words typed on paper. The so-called "Law" has both the "Letter of the Law" aspect as well as the "Spirit of the Law" side. We, of the P2P Community, know that the Orcs of Hollywood use the "Letter of the Law" in an attempt to destroy the Law's Spirit. The Progress of Mankind is being held for ransom by the Hollywood hypocrites for the sake of their holy bank accounts. It is the duty of all P2P patriots to copy whatever they find important and to share it with whoever is interested. When such films as "Eyes of the Prize" contain historically important footage, it is in the Spirit of the Law that we are empowered to keep this history from being buried in the dark vaults of the Media Orcs.

  4.2.2005 05:06 #3