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 #:
00069
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. Aikex, Cross Examination. 251!) Conference. Edison Company Issues Important Statement. * Leading Motion View Men Discuss Great Moving Picture Controversy. Strong Views Expressed by Frank L. Dyer, General Counsel for the Edison Manufacturing Co., and J. A. Berst, American Manager for Pathe Freres, of Paris.'' Q. Have you read it? A. Yes, sir; I have read the most of it. Q. This article begins : "An important conference was held at the Auditorium Annex, Chicago, by representatives of the Edison Manufacturing Company, and manufacturers who are operating under the Edison licenses, last week. Among those who participated in the deliberations were William E. Gilmore, Vice-President and General Manager of the Edison Manufacturing Co. of Orange, X. J. ; J. A. Berst, American Manager of Pathe Freres, Paris; W. N. Selig, President of the Selig Polyscope Co., Chicago; George K. Spoor, President of the Essanay Co., Chicago, and resident members of the Film Service Association. " Were you present at that conference? A. I think I was. I don't know as to that particular conference, but we met those people at that time. Q. The article continues : "Frank L. Dyer, of New York, g general counsel for the Edison Manufacturing Co., issued the following statement regarding the controversy over the patent situation in the moving picture business." Do you recall such a statement being discussed at that conference? A. No, sir; I do not. There were things taken up here and there, but I do not recall anything, particularly. Q. Do you recall statements made by Mr. Dyer respecting the value of the Latham patent? A. Xo, sir; I do not. Mr. Grosvexor: I offer that article in evidence. The article offered is received in evidence and marked " Petitioner's Exhibit Xo. 255, and is as follows :