The makers of the series no longer have permission for the archival footage they previously used of such key events as the historic protest marches or the confrontations with Southern police. Given Eyes on the Prize's tight budget, typical of any documentary, its filmmakers could barely afford the minimum five-year rights for use of the clips. That permission has long since expired, and the $250,000 to $500,000 needed to clear the numerous copyrights involved is proving too expensive.
The series was a must-watch, especially in our house on Martin Luther King Day and during Black History month at school. It looks like copies of the box set can still be had from Amazon, although at a cost prohibitive to individuals and small institutions. The idea that we won't be able to sit our own children down to watch this is rather troubling.
We have notes out to some friends who know more about documentary production and intellectual property law than we do, so keep an eye on this post for updates. Update: Friend of SFist and independent documentary producer Robby Fahey, who works closely with San Francisco-based ITVS, chimes in with some realities of clearing rights for films.
Stunning image of the march on Selma, Alabama from Stanford University's Humanities Laboratory -- Crowds Series.
