In the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States of America, petitioner, vs. Motion Picture Patents Company, et al., defendants (1913)

Record Details:

Title:
In the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States of America, petitioner, vs. Motion Picture Patents Company, et al., defendants
Date:
1913
Publisher:
New York, Appeal Printing Co.
Volume:
In the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States of America, petitioner, vs. Motion Picture Patents Company, et al., defendants : record volume 3
Leaf #:
000166
Language:
English
Collection:
Early Cinema and Government & Law
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
The Museum of Modern Art Library, New York
Sponsor:
Media History Digital Library
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
These seven volumes contain the testimonies and supporting documents from the U.S. District Court's antitrust lawsuit against the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC). Formed in 1908, the MPPC (sometimes referred to asœ"the Edison Trust" or just "the Trust") sought to control the American film industry through pooling patents and demanding that producers and exhibitors acquire licenses to those patents. Independent producers and exhibitors, who refused to license the patents, argued that the MPPC was an unlawful monopoly. In 1912 and 1913, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania heard testimonies from both MPPC members, such as Siegmund Lubin, and "Independents" who later became Hollywood moguls, such as William Fox. Ultimately, in 1915, the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which found the MPPC in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and spelled the end for the already weakening MPPC. -- Eric Hoyt, 2012
Date Added:
September 21, 2023
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1392 H. N. Marvin, Direct Examination. even twice as much as I am at present paying nor could any other party ouside of a Film Exchange make the other house pay, as it has been tried several times both with Licensed and Independent Film, and I do not think they are at present making any more then a fair rental for the Film used I beg to ask if nothing can be done by the Patents Co, to at least protect me on four reels per week. Otherwise the Independents seems to be the only way out of it for me. Something which I Frankly admit I do not like to do although I have never seen any of their products I was as you may determine the first Licensed Picture house in this City, the first Picture house in this City and have since being Licensed tried to Live up to the Ideas of the Patents Co. having Spent the entire Profits of the past years on improvements, having full confidence in the Patents Co to Protect me against Just such Methods as are now being used by the other house to get control of the Picture business in this City such Methods do not go to make for better Pictures neither does it increase the sales of the Producers, If I was driven out of business to Morrow or even if I went Independent How long would they continue to show first run film. I venture to say not one day. They Know full well that if I can get Film that they can not block me an I can get the business, for that reason they are showing first run Pictures three to one is quiet a difference especialy when the same Picture is on at the same time Still I am Making expences, but who wants to work for nothing. Trusting this will have the attention it deserves I am Yours Truly C. JELIER, Mgr. By Mr. Kingsley: Q. I show you a letter dated Rockford, 111., June 10, 1909, signed W. Clarke. Did you receive that letter? A. I did. Mr. Kingsley : I offer it in evidence. Mr. Grosvenor : Same objections.