Broadcasters and film companies open up archives to the public

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 13-Apr-05, 16:00

LONDON – The BBC, Channel 4, the British Film Institute and the Open University have launched the Creative Archive Licence Group, which contains the largest film, television and radio archives available to the public in the UK.

The Creative Archive allows people to legally download material from the internet for non-commercial purposes. The BBC will add footage from natural history and factual programmes, while Channel 4 will provide content from its broadband documentary channel 4Docs.

The BFI will be releasing silent comedy, early literary adaptations and newsreel and archive footage of British cities with all partners commiting to expand into other genres in due course.

The scheme is designed to fuel creativity across the UK as people can use the footage for their own artistic creations or school and university projects.

The Creative Archive was launched following the BBC Building Public Value report in December which pledged to help establish a common resource to extend the public's access while protecting the commercial rights of intellectual property owners.

Channel 4's head of education Heather Rabbatts said: "Seeking innovative ways to nurture the creativity of the country lies at the very heart of Channel 4's public service activity."

The BFI joined the scheme to promote British film making while Open University has plans to widen access to its learning material through film, TV and radio output.

At a launch seminar in London today, the four partners called on other media outlets to join the Creative Archive Licence Group.

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