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 #:
000180
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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1 140G H. N. Miarvin, Direct Examination. By Mr Kingslby: Q. I show you a copy of a letter dated September 9th, 1909, addressed to Mr. Rhorer. Ts that a copy of a letter which you seut iu reply to Mr. Rhorer? A. Yes. Mr. Kingsley : I offer it in evidence. Mr. Grosvenor : Same objection. The paper offered is received in evidence and marked "Defendants' Exhibit No. 86," and is as follows : Defendants' Exhibit No. 86. September 9, 1909. Mr. A. W. Rhorer, Lyric Theatre, Athens, Ga. Dear Sir: We note the difficulty you are having in obtaining satisfactory service. If you will be kind enough to send us a copy of the contract under which your service is now supplied and will give us a list of the films furnished you during the last two weeks, we will be pleased to investigate this matter a little further. In the meantime we are inclosing a list of our licensed exchanges, from any one of which you are at liberty to obtain service. Yours very truly, MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY, By HNM/JK enclosure By Mr. Kingsley : Q. I show you a letter dated Athens, Georgia, September 14th, 1909, signed A. W. Rhorer. Did you receive that letter? A. I did. Mr. Kingsley: I offer it in evidence. Mr. Grosvenor : Same objection. The paper offered is received in evidence and marked "Defendants' Exhibit No. 87," and is as follows: