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 #:
00065
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. 263. 2515 that may be brought against purchasers or exhibitors for alleged infringement of the Edison film patent because of the use of our films will be defended by the Biograph company, free of charge; and, furthermore, immunity is given against prosecution for infringement of the loop patent of the Biograph company, to those using films licensed by the Biograph company. aAs to the general policy of my company, it will place upon the market all desirable novelties made by the nine European manufacturers whose product we control in this country, and also films made by the Biograph company. In addition, we shall handle films imported by Italian Cines,, Williamson & Co., and Messrs. Williams, Brown & Earl. "It shall be our purpose to exploit these films throughout the United States, making them easily available to all exhibitors, either through our various rental bureaus, or renting companies with which I am personally affiliated, as well as through any independent rental exchange that wishes to purchase these films. Establishing New Connections. "New connections are being established as rapidly as possible. Missouri points will be supplied with independent films from a new office in St. Louis established by the Kleine Optical company of Missouri. "A new rental bureau will be in operation at Birmingham, Ala., Monday, March 2. Our other rental bureaus at Seattle, Denver, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Montreal and New York are fully equipped to give the most efficient service. "We have been in constant communication by cable, since the convention at Buffalo, with the European manufacturers whom we represent, and they have entered into the spirit of the situation in a most enthusiastic manner, promising a series of film novelties that will excell from every standpoint, "All films that we control, and those of affiliated concerns, acting under the Biograph license, will be sold outright, without restrictions as to their use. "The question that has become of vital importance to rental exchanges is the purchase of films. After mature consideration the Kleine Optical company will hereafter