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 #:
00049
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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Fred C. Aiken, Cross Examination. 2499 The Witness: Our Association requested co-operation of the manufacturers; in fact, we had conferences with the manufacturers, for the purpose of impressing upon them the importance of making good film, and to eliminate objectionable subjects which were creeping on the market at that time. By Mr. Grosvenor: Q. And these names that I have read you, were the manufacturers who at that time agreed to co-operate with you in the purposes for which this Association was formed? A. Those manufacturers that you mentioned were the principal manufacturers at that time, and from whom we practically received our entire source of film, or a majority of it. Q. This list that I have read does not include the Biograph Company. Do you observe that? A. I do. Q. Was it the fact that these manufacturers whose names I have read did agree at that time to co-operate with the Association? A. I believe that they offered to do anything that they could to assist us for the betterment of the business. Q. The Biograph Company did not join with the others in agreeing to co-operate with you at that time? A. I do not believe they did, no, sir. Whereupon, at 4 : 30 P. M., on this Thursday, the 11th day of December, 1913, the hearings are adjourned until 10:30 o'clock A. M., on Friday, December 12th, 1913, at the Hotel Manhattan, New York City.