UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

This article describes modern media preservation methodology with a focus on film preservation. Media in all forms is an extension of culture and most is lost over time without preservation efforts. Preservation is deliberate through methods such as special storage and digitization, which are often hindered by tradition and corporate interest. Due to the preservation tradition, organizations that prioritize preservation may not be able to receive funding from larger organizations. Piracy is a concern for many intellectual property holders that prevent preservation for supposed monetary injury. Preservation efforts are hindered through legislation and digital rights management installed into releases. Piracy is the solution to the problem piracy itself creates, as decentralized archives of media not officially preserved ensure their preservation through multiple sources. There is no true solution to these hindrances, but the general population making efforts to preserve what little they are able to can still make a difference.