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 1
Leaf #:
00030
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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8 Harry N. Marvin, Direct Examination. Company, Kalem Company, The Lnbin Company, or rather S..Lubin, of Philadelphia; Essanay Company, Selig Polyscope Company, and I think George Melies made some films. Q. What companies were in 190S, importing films from abroad? A. The Kleine Optical Company. Q. That company was owned by George Kleine? A. Yes. Q. And was located at Chicago? A. Yes, sir. G. Melies, Pathe Freres, Williams, Brown and Earle, and Essanay Company. Q. Is that the Italian company? A. It was called the "Essanay Company." 1 think it imported under the name of Dressier & Company; a man named Oes represented the Great Northern Company of Europe. Q. The method of doing business in 1908 was for the manufacturer to distribute his films to middlemen called "Rental Exchanges," and the latter rented the films to the various exhibitors or owners of moving picture theatres, is not that correct? A. That was the usual custom of distribution. Q. What articles besides these films did the rental exchange handle as a general rule? A. I believe they had projecting machines and supplies for them. Q. Supplies for the projecting machines? A. Yes, carbons and parts. Q. By far the larger proportion of the business then and now consists in the business of the moving picture films, is that not correct? A. Yes. Q. And by a moving picture film you mean the long film upon which are printed the innumerable photographs, taken one after the other of an object in motion? A. Yes, that is a fair description of a motion picture film. Q. In the beginning of 1908 there was formed an association in which a number of manufacturers of these moving pictures joined under the name of the Edison Licensees, is that not the fact? If you do not understand the question — A. I understand it. Q. It was known by that name? A. Yes. Q. It was formed by a number of these manufacturers taking out licenses from the Edison Company? A. That is my understanding. Q. And they were known as Edison licensees? A. Yes. sir. Q. Are you abb1 to state which companies joined that as