This is completely offtopic, but I'd love to do some encoding tests, except that the canonical test clips seem to be from Big Buck Bunny - animation encodes differently than live-action video.
Does anyone know of some Free-as-in-speech clips from a wider range of sources/cameras that I can use without being sued into oblivion? Australia doesn't really have Fair Use provisions.
Australia doesn't have Fair Use provision because it doesn't need it.
Australia allows use of copyrighted material for research/teaching purposes (up to a % limit). As in it isn't against the law at all. Where as Fair Use Provision is a defence, when you are charged with breach of copyright (much like "self defence" in an assault charge).
(This is how even in Australia, Teachers are allowed to photocopy material for classes, and Journalists can report on other materials without being sued). The Copyright Agency tries to police and charge royalties if applicable.
Big Buck Bunny is from a number of films by the Blender Foundation. They also made the live-action movie Tears of Steel, which can be downloaded uncompressed: http://media.xiph.org/tearsofsteel/
Does anyone know of some Free-as-in-speech clips from a wider range of sources/cameras that I can use without being sued into oblivion? Australia doesn't really have Fair Use provisions.