Eyes on the Prize

Eyes on the Prize is probably one of the most important documentaries ever made about the Civil Rights movement. It is also all but inaccessible, because at ten years old, the VHS tapes made of it are already degrading and no more are being sold since copyright issues (about access to news clips, etc.) prevent the production company from making more. Here’s a place in which copyright law is preventing communities from engaging crucially important history. Well, someone’s doing something about it. With the implicit permission of the production company, several people are making digitized versions of the documentary available online for download, and calling for people to download it and show it on February 8th — by way of polite and civil, disobedience. I think this is a great strategy, and I intend to participate. You should, too!

UPDATE: WiredOnline is reporting that the clearance rights attorney for the production company is trying to stop the Downhillbattle.org action. So perhaps the permission from the production company is not even implicit? I think think it's a good idea, but people choosing to do this need to recognize and be clear about why they doing so, and the possible legal consequences of it.