Today I want to show you something that i think is really cool. Take a look at what this eBay seller is selling:
http://snipurl.com/1zygd
(note: you’ll need to be logged into ebay to see these completed items)
He’s selling historical archival film footage on DVD. And they seem to be selling pretty well.
What’s really interesting is the films he’s selling are all in the Public Domain! That means anyone can reproduce and sell them without paying any royalities.
But, where is he getting his films from? It looks like he’s found a source that has the raw footage and then he edits it and converts it to DVD format.
I haven’t located his exact source but I do know a place where you can find all kind of downloadable public domain prints, movies, recordings, maps, books, etc.
You can find all these at the Library of Congress American Memory site at: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html
Now, while most of the items listed are public domain (meaning that you can freely copy and distribute them) SOME of the items are owned by third parties and have a copyright. For example in the section devoted to Coca-Cola there is this warning:
Unlike most of the materials presented on the Internet as part of American Memory, materials in Fifty Years of Coca-Cola Television Advertisements: Highlights from the Motion Picture Archives at the Library of Congress are subject to copyright and other legal concerns such as publicity rights. These materials are presented here with the permission of The Coca-Cola Company for private educational, scholarly, and research uses. Researchers should contact The Coca-Cola Company directly regarding uses that exceed fair use or for other permission-related information…
You can read the full notice here:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colares.html
If you plan to use any of this to resell just make sure that check for any copyright notice.
Scott
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43 Responses to 'Old Documentary Style Films Bring a Nice Profit on eBay'
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Interesting post. I have been interested in marketing public domain information for quite a while.
J.R.
Scott,
You never cease to amaze me with your finds.Another good idea to build on and expand into other areas.
Thanks
Daryl
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I took a look at your railroad listing. What a clever idea. The photos and wording are very professional and clearly spells out what a buyer receives for their purchase. Any railroad afficionado would be most interested, especially with your reasonable price.
Your conversion process to DVD is not something most people would want to tackle themselves which would have a high perceived value, too.
One of those ideas that you wish you would have thought of.
I looked deeper. If he used the upgraded ebay listings (purple boarder) ect. He listed several for sale. In one auction he sold 13 X 16.95. In another auction he had a link to his store.
They are selling…
Hi, Thanks for this information. It’s interesting to me because I work in video production. I have been contemplating getting into the public domain side of things for awhile but never did. I appreciate the information you provided.
Best,
Lisa
Very intresting! I have started looking into ‘public domain’ with little success but this has made me look at it from a different angle. Need to take the time to resarch further, but thank you for widening my horzions.
This is a site withing the Library of Congress that contains some further reading regarding copyrights one may find interesting.
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2006/comments/konop.pdf
Hi Scott, Thank you once again for your great info. I have been to the site you talk about in this letter but had forgotten about it. It’s value is priceless, just for the history factor alone to say nothing about the other great possibilities it presents.
Darlene
Thanks for the great info. I have already gotten some info that I am going to try to make into a product.
Thanks again,
Jim
Scott thanks for the info. I too have also forgotten your valueable information.
Thanks again
Another super blog. You provide one of the few auction blogs with fantastic useful content. Will be back for more!
Scott,
Once again, you’ve uncovered something interesting that probably never occured to most of us. Always enjoy the info you share and look forward to more to come.
Gloria
auntieflostreats.com
Great info, Scott, and thanks for bringing it to our attention. Seems like the types of products one can sell is neverending!
Another great idea !! I love seeing the e-mails from you ,,keep up the good work and ideas,, Bob
Hi Scott,
Always enjoy your emails and creative ideas!
Thank you!
God Bless,
RC
You sure know how to stay on top things Scott. thanks for the information.
Al
Thanks for the heads up. Its a great site. What a fun way to spend a day or so and learn and earn as I go.
Maxine
I have been watching your links and like the many suggestions taht are right under your nose that can make money. Thanks for all the wonderful inflormation. New to selling on ebay and like your advice. Thanks Leon
UNBELIEVABLE! This Seller has such an attractive way of selling too! Another idea I wish I thought of but I’m sort of challenged technically :-). Thanks so much!
Well, this isn’t something I’d really like to sell, but some of it looks like stuff I’d like to buy! Thanks for the always great information.
Hi Scott,
The seller of these films is vulnerable to DVD pirates. Unless he’s created a unique anti-copying procedure into the discs these DVD’s are up for grabs. DVDs are already probably the most pirated item on eBay.
My prediction is within two months he/she will have so-called “competitors” undercutting his/her price on the exact same DVDs. Not a good way to make money on eBay in the long run.
Take a look at all the information complilation CDs on eBay and all the copies of those CDs. I really think unique collectibles are the better market.
George
More interesting Ideas. Love getting your e-mails.
Wonderful Information. Thanks
Great blog. I was also interested in this but was unsure where to find it. I will try and locate a historic item to turn into a product. Very Cool, thank you.
Jeromy
Interesting comments about the dvd’s being copied on ebay.Obviously
you have to keep moving with updating your product. As my mother
said “There are always faster RATS”
And 94 year old Doc. Cheatum “Mr.Jazz” says you have to keep movin.
Ciao
Ra(Dr.Radium)
Hey Scoot,
Interesting find. I would note one that I ran across 2 or 3 years ago. An insurance agent who lives down south had created copies of (or so his story went) discharge papers from his confederate ancestor, and a note from R E Lee, somthing about his reasons for surrender at Appomatix. He had the originals framed in his office and these copies were being sold, framed for maybe $39. a pop. He was elling at the time, 3-8 of these a week.
I’ve been looking for something of historical interest, or niche interest that could be put together on the same basis. Nothing has clicked. Still looking.
Also saw a fellow selling reprints of old gun sales catalogs from days gone by. He would find one in great condition and relicate it and sell it to collectors to have with their original gun that the catalog was highlighting.
Great blog,
Corky
As a followup to my post above.
I would note that I have had some luck with certain eBay catagories. ie… some doll houses…. bakelite…. antique musical instruments.
Replicate anything like that and some collector will have interest in putting with his collection. Some of those things are hard to find. If it’s PD, it’s do-able.
Corky
OK another followup…
I’ve seen advertisements cut out of old magazines. Just THAT page go for $20. And it was for a set of dishes. Same sort of thing. If it’s old enough, and someone collects it, they may want a copy of whatever you can find to add to and enhance their collection.
Last one, I promise,
Corky
Goodone Scott - Another great place for public domain material is the university of pennsylvania. And the US archives has tons of PD stuff although they do charge a fee for reproduction.
Besides movies, there are free music recordings, speaches, old photographs, civil war posters, old advetisements and of course books by the millions that are in the PD.
I would like to know if anyone has an idea what kind of equipment and time it takes for the seller or anyone to convert these films over to cd’s?
wow! Interesting, and highly doable. Gotta give you credit, you sure can keep us busy here.
Thanks
Barbara
Excellenr information. Ever since I read one of Avril Harper’s books (and found it would be difficult to do because of physical handicaps), I’ve kicked the idea of public domain about. Now that I know where to find it, it would be easier to manage and it has more of a possibility of sales.
I just started receiving your e-mails and I am looking forwar to your insights!
Wow, even if you don’t take this to make something to sell, it’s really interesting to browse for yourself. Never even knew this existed… So much to see, so little time… This work thing constantly gets in the way!
Thanks for your endless great suggestions, Scott!
Hey Scott,
I’ve seen a few of the Public Domain DVD’s offered, wondered where they sourced the original material. I’ll have to follow your link and take a good look.
I’ve already re-published a few Public Domain books, two as hard copies, a few others in digital format. May have to expand into films. The amount of stuff available in the Public Domain is just mind-boggling.
And your heads-up about ‘publicity rights’ is good to know.
Excellent work, as usual. Thanks again.
John R. Cumbow
http://www.MisspelledBargains.com
Find the misspelled eBay auction
bargains that other bidders miss!
thanks for that information but i don’t know that much about public domain. But that was a great info.
Cool stuff! Never ceases to amaze me what can bought and sold online whether it be eBay or another online site. There truly is enough “stuff” to go around! Keep the tips coming Scott! I’m still concerned about how the new feedback program will work out with eBay, as I’ve been holding off listing as the fees don’t concern me so much, I’m real small potatoes, but the feedback worries me, seems to be a one-way street to the buyers benefit.
As always you “rock”… Taking a bit of History and selling it…
People always want to know More of what happin in the past,
so we can learn any mistakes we made… Thats why I’m writing a
cook book woth current times its in the 1800’s…. I think it will sell.
I will keep you updated as it nearing publiscation.
Thanks a million…
Reg B.
Scott, great idea! Public domain information is free to use. As someone who has taken a brief look at it I can tell you there are millions of ideas floating around in my head. However, I just want to remind everyone, that while this is a fantastic idea you can expect a project like this to take hours and hours and hours of research. If you are a history buff this is an ideal way to spend your time and make some money. Thanks again, Scott
If you do get into public domain material, do yourself a favor and do something to it to make it your own, that way you can keep it from being ripped off by other sellers on Ebay.
I am already quite actively involved in selling public domain information and hadn’t even considered this side of things, which I am doing now. Thanks and here’s to another profitable post…
Hey Scott.
That was a real eye opener! Thanks for the heads up! Been looking into getting into this and you have given me the rapdmap. Thanks again.
Scott–
Another great post! Keep up the good work!