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)

Page scan 000115 from 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 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 #:
000115
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 12, 2024
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Bulletins to Exhibitors. !>;*> APPLICATIONS FROM EXHIBITORS. 1 For Theatres Now Open. Every Exhibitor now in business may apply on the enclosed blank before February 1st, 1909, for a license. It is the policy of this Company to be liberal in issuing these licenses, but for the good of the business and to conserve the interests of the better class of the exhibitors, it may be necessary to refuse some applications. For New Theatres. 2 The Patents Company will protect theatres already established as far as may be possible, and it will issue licenses to only such new places of exhibition as obtain the approval of the Patents Company before they are established. The Patents Company will approve only such locations as in its opinion will support new houses and meet a public demand. TERMS OF LICENSE. The license of the Patents Company to exhibitors covers ~ the theatre, or place of exhibition, and is issued on the following terms : (1) At the place licensed, only montion pictures may be used which are manufactured or imported by the licensees of the Patents Company and rented from a licensed Exchange. (2) The Exhibitor shall pay a weekly royalty to be determined by the Patents Company, graded according to the relative business of each of the licensed 4 theatres. For the period from February 1st to March 8th, 1909, this royalty shall be $10.00 ($2.00 per week) which sum must accompany each application. Should a license be refused, the fee accompanying the application will be returned. (3) The license shall be at all times prominently displayed in the place of exhibition of the licensee and together with the machines used, be always open to inspection by the Patents Company.