The National Archives has reported publishing Zapruder film still images online during the lawsuit brought by our client, the Forum on Open Access to Government Records. Javitch Law Office represents the Forum in its effort to secure public access to these historical records and challenge the copyright restrictions asserted over them.
The development was announced in Mark L. Javitch’s November 5, 2026 release on ZapruderFilm.com, which reproduces the National Archives’ email confirming the upload. It is a concrete public-access result in the course of the litigation—not a final judgment resolving every claim.
Where to see the newly published Zapruder frames
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) identifies the uploaded still images with National Archives Identifier 559449. Researchers and members of the public can visit the National Archives catalog entry for the Zapruder images to explore the records.
In the email reproduced in the release, NARA states:
“Pursuant to its License with the Sixth-Floor Museum, NARA has completed its upload of the requested Zapruder Film still images to its webpage for NAID 559449.”
That statement confirms what NARA says it uploaded and identifies where it made the files available. The announcement concerns still images; it should not be read as confirmation that every version of the motion-picture film or every preservation copy is now online.
What NARA says about the image quality
According to NARA’s email, the uploaded images were digitized with these specifications:
- File format: TIFF (.TIF).
- Dimensions: 7,744 × 5,317 pixels.
- Reported resolution: 3,200 dpi horizontally and vertically.
- Bit depth: 48 bits.
- Compression: uncompressed.
These specifications describe the digital files. They do not, by themselves, establish the generation or condition of the source material, or show that the scans are the best copies NARA holds. The release describes the publication as access to one of three sets of Zapruder slides and reports that higher-quality versions remain unavailable.
How the Forum’s lawsuit brought the access issue before the court
Javitch Law Office represents the Forum in Forum on Open Access to Government Records, Inc. v. Dallas County Historical Foundation d/b/a The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, No. 3:25-cv-2034-B, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The litigation addresses both public access through NARA and the Museum’s asserted copyright.
On August 5, 2026, Judge Jane J. Boyle denied NARA’s motion to dismiss and allowed the Forum’s FOIA online-publication claim to proceed. The court’s ruling addressed whether the Freedom of Information Act’s electronic reading-room requirement can be enforced through litigation, including for qualifying historical records created by third parties.
Read the August 5, 2026 Memorandum Opinion and Order (PDF), or read our case study explaining the ruling and the claims that survived.
Our firm views the subsequent upload as an important response to the Forum’s lawsuit. NARA’s email describes the upload as pursuant to its license with the Museum. Those are distinct points: the litigation sought online access, while NARA identifies the license as the basis for its posting. The email is not a new court ruling on copyright ownership, fair use, or the ultimate merits of the remaining claims.
The court order and the Museum–NARA agreement are separate documents
After the August ruling, NARA and the Museum entered into a license agreement effective October 1, 2026. That agreement is a separate document from the court’s order. Our analysis of the agreement discusses its limits on reference copies and access to higher-quality versions.
- Court document: August 5 Memorandum Opinion and Order.
- Separate document: October 1 Museum–National Archives License Agreement.
- Our analysis: the superseding agreement and restrictions on the best copies.
A meaningful step, with access questions still unresolved
Putting records online matters because access is no longer limited to an individual requester receiving a private response. Researchers, journalists, historians, and members of the public can consult the published catalog entry themselves.
But publication of some slides does not establish that all requested records have been made available or that the copyright dispute has ended. The Forum continues to challenge restrictions on access. The November 5 release expressly distinguishes the posted slide set from higher-quality versions it reports are still unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the Zapruder frames published by the National Archives?
NARA’s email identifies catalog entry NAID 559449. Visit catalog.archives.gov/id/559449 for the uploaded still images.
Did NARA publish every version of the Zapruder film?
The release does not report that. It describes online access to one of three slide sets and says higher-quality versions remain unavailable. Publication of still images should not be confused with release of every film version or preservation element.
Does this mean the Forum won a final judgment?
No. The upload is a public-access development during the litigation. The August 5 order allowed claims to proceed; it was not a final determination of all copyright and access issues.
Who represents the Forum in the Zapruder lawsuit?
Javitch Law Office represents the Forum on Open Access to Government Records in the Northern District of Texas litigation.
Help with public-record access and copyright barriers
If an agency is withholding records or a copyright claim is being used to obstruct access or lawful use, learn about our FOIA litigation practice and copyright threat defense practice, or contact Javitch Law Office for a confidential case review.
Source: “Breaking: National Archives Publishes Some Zapruder Slides Online, Higher Quality Versions Still Unavailable,” Mark L. Javitch, November 5, 2026. This article reports the announcement and NARA’s quoted email; it does not independently assess every catalog file or establish the current availability of all versions.
Attorney advertising. Javitch Law Office is counsel for the Forum. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article provides general information, not legal advice.