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 #:
00036
Language:
English
Collection:
Government & Law and Early Cinema
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 14 Harry N. Marvin, Direct Examination. Q. And he was connected in some capacity with the Edison Company? A. He was. Q. Then after this meeting at which these particular agreements were executed you had another meeting you say at which the persons were present with respect to whom you have testified and at which the various license agreements with the Motion Picture Patents Company were signed? A. That is correct. Mr. Grosvenor: I offer in evidence certificate of charter of the Motion Picture Patents Company, dated September the 9th, 1908. I offer this paper as Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. As it is the same as Exhibit 1 to the petition, it need not be copied into the record. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. (This is Exhibit No. 1 to the original petition in this case and is printed at the end of the petition.) By Mr. Grosvenor: Q. Now, Mr. Marvin, this charter of the Patents Company names as incorporators Hugh H. Harrison, George J. Murray and William H. Lane. Who was Hugh H. Harrison, do you know? A. I hardly know how to describe him. Q. Was he connected with a law office? A. I don't think he was connected with a law office. Q. Well, who was he, did you know him? A. I knew him, yes, but I didn't or don't even know what his business is. Q. And George J. Murray; do you know who he is? A. I don't know anything about him. Q. William H. Lane? A. I don't know him. Q. These men were simply temporary Directors, holding office until the company should start business at which time the officers elected on December the 18th, succeeded to their positions? A. Yes, that is correct. Q. And there was no intention that these men should be permanent officers? A. No.