Project files- future compatibility?

Question

Here's the scenario: I would like to offer my customers the option to purchase the project files for future alterations to a project. For example, I would back up the entire project: source footage, render files, associated Motion files, everything that is associated with the project. And then give it to them on either a small hard drive or on a couple discs (for small projects). This way, at anytime in the future, they want to re-edit or update their promotional video, it would be as simple as importing the files and picking up where you left off- very similar to backing up film rolls in iPhoto, where it exports the original photos plus all the data for changes you made.
My question is: Is it guaranteed that those project files will be compatible with Final Cut Pro 5 to 10 years later. Or is it possible that I would try to open those files with a future versioin of Final Cut, and it would not recognize them?

Answer 1

Jeff,
I don't know how much profit you could generate with your marketing, but its certainly worth further investigation - depending on the client type that you cater to.
Here's what I've been doing:
For ALL clients, I always keep the project file and original acquisition tapes as well as a DVCam master and DVD master.
For corporate clients that have projects that routinely require updating, I keep their material on an ATA drive - the cost of the drive is figured into their budget. when it's time to update a project, I slide their drive into a WebieTech DriveDoc and I'm ready to go.
For other corporate projects, I keep any graphics, music or other material I've created on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM ... in case of a re-edit or a new project for that client. Non-corporate clients (events, tributes, docus, etc) are handled the same way.
All this costs me is a few cents for some blank CDs or DVDs. As I said, the hard drives are paid for at the time the project begins for those clients that will definitely need regular edit updates.
I use my method as a selling technique in initial consultations, by letting the prospective client know I keep the original tapes and masters on hand.
But even with all that, there's no guarantee that any media, player or software will be useable in the future; nothing is future proof! Anyone still have a working BetaMax deck or 5-1/4" floppy drive? Or how about a working wire recorder ... when was the last time you saw one of those outside of a museum?
-DH