Licensing

How to License Stockfilm Footage

There are two ways to license our restored 8mm and Super 8 footage. More than 115,000 clips can be licensed directly here on Stockfilm.com, and the full catalog is also available through Pond5. Here is how each one works, what it costs, and what the license covers.

Quick answers

How much does it cost to license archival footage from Stockfilm?

More than 115,000 clips can be licensed directly on Stockfilm.com at a flat $149 for the 4K restored master. The rest of the catalog is on Pond5, where clips run $79 to $299 per clip (most around $177 to $199). Volume discounts and subscription plans are available on Pond5, and enterprise pricing is available for orders of 10+ clips. Contact us directly.

What formats can I download Stockfilm footage in?

A direct license on Stockfilm.com delivers the restored 4K MP4 master (3840x2160). Pond5 listings offer MP4 (H.264) and MOV (ProRes) in HD (1920x1080) and 4K where available. All footage preserves authentic film grain and original aspect ratios.

What can I use Stockfilm footage for?

It depends on the clip's status, shown on every clip page and grid card. Clips marked 'Commercial and editorial' can be used in commercial work (ads, corporate videos, branded content), editorial work (documentaries, news, education), broadcast (TV, streaming, festivals) and digital (websites, apps, courses). Clips marked 'Editorial only' are limited to documentary, news and educational use and may not be used in advertising, commercial or branded content, or broadcast promotion. Clips marked 'Pond5' are not licensed by Stockfilm; Pond5's own license applies. Every Stockfilm direct license is worldwide, perpetual, and requires no attribution.

How quickly can I download footage after purchasing?

Both paths deliver instantly. A direct license on Stockfilm.com unlocks the 4K master download the moment payment clears, and Pond5 clips download right after checkout. Custom footage requests take 1-3 business days, and enterprise bulk orders are delivered within 3-5 business days.

Step-by-Step Licensing Process

Browse or search the archive. Use our curated collections, Archive Index, or search to find clips by keyword, decade, and location.
Preview clips. Each clip includes a thumbnail on Stockfilm and a watermarked preview on Pond5. Review framing, color, and content before purchasing.
License the clip. On most clip pages, click License Direct to license and pay on Stockfilm, a flat $149 for the 4K master. If a clip isn't available for direct licensing, use the Pond5 link to license it on the Pond5 marketplace instead.
Download immediately. A direct license unlocks the 4K master download the moment payment clears, with a receipt emailed to you. Pond5 clips download from your Pond5 account in your preferred resolution. No waiting period either way.
Use in your project. The royalty-free license is worldwide with no expiration. Clips marked Commercial cover commercial and editorial use; clips marked Editorial only are limited to documentary, news, educational, internal and organic social use (see Editorial-only clips).

Pricing

What a clip costs depends on which path you use.

Direct on Stockfilm: a flat $149 per clip for the 4K restored master, royalty-free and worldwide. More than 115,000 clips can be licensed this way, look for the License Direct button on a clip page.
Pond5 marketplace: $79 to $299 per clip, most around $177 to $199
Volume discounts: available through Pond5 subscription plans and bulk purchase credits
Custom licensing: Contact us for enterprise pricing on 10+ clips

Direct licenses are a single flat rate shown at checkout. On Pond5, the price varies by resolution, clip length, and content rarity, and is shown on the clip page before purchase.

Available Formats

Our footage originates from 8mm and Super 8 home movie film. Original reels are professionally scanned and digitally restored. Available download formats include:

MP4 (H.264): Most common format, compatible with all editing software
MOV (ProRes): Higher quality for professional post-production workflows
Resolutions: HD (1920x1080) and 4K (3840x2160) where available

The restoration process preserves authentic film grain, color, and aspect ratio while removing dust, scratches, and stabilization artifacts.

Usage Rights

What you can do with a clip depends on its licensing status, which is printed on every clip page (under the title and in the license box) and on every grid card as a badge: $149 · Commercial, $149 · Editorial only, or Pond5. For clips marked Commercial, the direct Stockfilm license grants:

Commercial use: Advertisements, corporate videos, social media, branded content (clips marked “Commercial and editorial” only)
Editorial use: Documentaries, news segments, educational materials, museum exhibits (all direct clips)
Broadcast: Television, streaming platforms, film festival submissions (broadcast promotion and advertising require a Commercial clip)
Digital: Websites, apps, presentations, online courses
Territory: Worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive

Editorial-only clips

About 69,000 of the direct-licensable clips are marked Editorial only. They cost the same flat $149 and deliver the same 4K master, but the license is limited to documentary, news and educational productions. They may not be used in advertising, commercial or branded content, or broadcast promotion. The clip page says so above the Add to Cart button, the cart labels each editorial-only line, and checkout will not offer commercial or broadcast scopes for them. If you need one of these clips for a commercial project, contact us for a rights review.

No attribution is required. The license does not expire and covers unlimited reproductions within the licensed project. Direct license terms are shown on the clip's licensing page before you pay; for Pond5, review the full Pond5 license agreement for complete terms.

What the License Covers, and What May Need Additional Review

A standard Stockfilm direct license does not include AI-training rights; dataset licensing for machine learning is a separate written agreement (see AI Training Data). And no stock license, from any archive, clears every third-party interest that can appear inside a frame. The boundaries:

Stockfilm licenses the rights identified in the applicable clip agreement. Catalog flags help identify visible people, minors, logos or trademarks, and audible music. These flags are screening aids rather than legal opinions. Depending on the footage, context, territory, and proposed use, a production may need to evaluate additional privacy, publicity, trademark, artwork, location, music, or sensitive-use considerations.

What Stockfilm provides

The applicable Stockfilm license
The licensed master file
Available source and metadata information
Catalog content flags
Available scan and restoration information

What Stockfilm may be able to document

Source-reel origin
The basis for a date or location
Original labels or collection notes
Known visible elements
Adjacent clips and reel context

What the production remains responsible for

Its own legal and editorial review
Third-party interests outside the licensed copyright
Use-specific privacy, publicity, trademark, artwork, location, music, or sensitive-use considerations
Distributor, broadcaster, insurer, or platform requirements

Read the Licensing Guide Read the Archive Integrity policy

How Stockfilm documents footage, labels metadata confidence, and flags content is published on Archive Integrity. Research teams should start at For Archival Producers.

Licensing Direct on Stockfilm

Most of the catalog can be licensed without leaving Stockfilm. Open a clip, click License Direct, choose your usage scope, and check out. You get the 4K digitally restored master (MP4) under a royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license, ready to download the moment payment clears. A receipt is emailed to you.

Direct licensing is a flat $149 per clip, with no subscription and no per-use tracking. If a clip isn't available directly yet, the same footage is on Pond5.

How Pond5 Works

Pond5 is the world's largest marketplace for royalty-free media, and it carries the full Stockfilm catalog, including clips not yet available for direct licensing. When you license a clip there:

You purchase directly from Pond5 with their secure payment processing
Download files are hosted on Pond5 servers for reliable, fast delivery
Your license agreement is with Pond5, backed by their standard terms
Customer support is available through both Stockfilm and Pond5

Visit our Marketplaces page to see all platforms where Stockfilm footage is available.

Delivery Timeline

Standard clips: Instant download after purchase
Custom requests: 1-3 business days for catalog search and response
Enterprise/bulk orders: 3-5 business days for custom packaging and delivery

Need Something Specific?

If you cannot find the right footage through search or browse, our archivists can help. We have access to the full catalog and can identify clips that may not yet be indexed on the site.

Request Footage

Describe the era, location, and subject you need and we will search the full archive.

Submit Request

Contact Us

For enterprise licensing, custom rights, or project-specific questions.

Open Contact Form

Archive Integrity: Provenance, restoration, rights boundaries, and content-flag standards.
Compare archival footage sources: How Stockfilm, Getty, AP Archive, British Pathé, and public collections differ on rights, price, and coverage.
For Archival Producers: The research and licensing workflow for nonfiction production teams.
Marketplaces: All platforms where Stockfilm footage is available for licensing.
FAQ: Common questions about licensing, formats, pricing, and rights.
Browse Footage: Explore the archive by category, decade, and location.
Filmmaker Tools: 13 free tools including a licensing calculator and budget planner.
About Stockfilm: The story behind the archive and our preservation mission.