The article says they’re doing “showings” of the film, which makes me think that they don’t want it digitized, probably because the copyright is expired.
If they control all the copies, then they can charge people to watch it, even if the copyright is expired. If a copy leaks, though, then that revenue stream will dry up overnight.
The film has been digitized by us (Národní filmový archiv) to make screening DCP for the Pordenone Silent Film Festival, where the film will be unveiled.
The raw scans were also provided to our counterparts in Cinemateca Brasiliera who are now in charge to decide about the film's fate.
I surely hope they will make it accessible under a non-permissible license.
The scan of duplicate negative was done in 2K (2048x1556).
We had considered doing the scan in 6K, but the tests proved it unnecessary as it didn't yield any more detail except more grain from the film emulsion.
An example of a nonpermissive license is the General Public License (GPL) that ensures users have the freedom and responsibility to share their changes with the community.
If they control all the copies, then they can charge people to watch it, even if the copyright is expired. If a copy leaks, though, then that revenue stream will dry up overnight.