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 (1914)

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:
1914
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 5
Leaf #:
00033
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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Petitioner's Exhibit No. 253. 2483 am heartily in favor of this movement whose purpose is to bring about an understanding among the film renting concerns. We should adopt a uniform rate. Classification rates; should be abolished ; I mean by this that there should be but one grade of service, or one rate only. It would then be up to the renter to hold his trade. I think it necessary for all renters entering into an agreement to deposit a certain amount of cash as a guarantee of good faith which would be subject to forfeiture in case of violation of agreement. A chairman would be appointed and also a man in each district whose duty would be to report weekly, say. to the chairman. The film renters' association and manufacturers ami importers will provide ample funds to defray expense of the campaign. The success of the project can only be assured with the co-operation of the manufacturers and importers, and I cannot suggest a better course for them to pursue than to follow the example of the Pa the Freres. With best wishes for the full success of the convention. Bailey Film Service. After the meeting had discussal various ideas relating to the business in general, the president was authorized to appoint a committee to consult with the manufacturers I who were meeting separately) and report again to the meeting of renters. After practically an all-night sitting, the committee drew up and submitted the following suggestions and resolutions to the meeting, which were unanimously adopted : "Whereas. Through lack of organization, many evils have crept into the film-renting business, causing conditions which seriously threaten the good standing of film exchanges throughout the country; and, ••Whereas, The authorities in many cities have been and now are objecting to the nature of many films now being exhibited ; and, "Whereas, In the interest of the public there is practically an unanimous desire on the part of all interests connected with this business to remedy and improve the existing conditions and place the business upon the highest plane, where it will be an important factor in the advancement of the social, moral and educational welfare of your people ; "Therefore, he it resolved, That the film exchanges represented in convention assembled form an association to be known as the United Film Service Protective Association, for