Mixmaster BBC

Filmmakers will be pleased to learn that the BBC has decided to allow (fairly) open use of a selection of news clips from its library.  Apparently, for an unspecified period of time, it is providing a "creative archive license" to all 80 of the clips available here.  In other words:

"You are welcome to download the clips, watch them, and use them to create something unique. This is a pilot and we want to understand your creative needs. We'd like to see your productions and showcase some of the most interesting ones we receive."

The World Cup, Falklands War, Tsunami, &c.: It's all a bit more ... dramatic than I tend to prefer.  But I imagine others will find the subject matter quite appealing.  Should I get around to making a compilation myself, I'll be certain to post it here.  And, of course, I'd be very interested to see anything anyone else makes.

PS At the risk of sounding churlish, it does seem only proper that a publicly-owned (or at least publicly-funded) institution ought to permit its nominal "owners" free use of what it produces.  That's certainly true of the gov't material in the Library of Congress and National Archives.  Though I don't suppose PBS (or the CPB) is quite so generous.

Link via Rick Prelinger, who himself generously provides a vast amount of video material for free download at the Internet Archive.

UPDATE: Apparently, the BBC material is only available to people in the United Kingdom.  Frankly, I'm really disappointed.  Especially because there's a North Korea clip.  And anything featuring the dynamic duo of Kims pere et fils is something I want to see.  Any UK readers willing to send me a copy?  Any UK readers at all?