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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 000119 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 #:
000119
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. 97 Petitioner's Exhibit No. 37. 1 Form Exch. 6. January 27th, 1909. To (Exhibitor) Dear Sir: — Please take notice that this Exchange has become a licensee of the Motion Picture Patents Company of 10 Fifth Avenue, New York, and that on and after February 2 1st, 1909, if you have applied to the Patents Company for a license to exhibit, we will be in a position to supply you with film. Our license agreement limits our rental of films to licensed exhibitors, and should you decide not to apply for such license, we will be compelled on February 1st, 1909, to discontinue our service to you. (Exchange) Petitioner's Exhibit No. 38. MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY 10 Fifth Avenue New York City Frank L. Dyer, President, H. N. Marvin, Vice-President. J. J. Kennedy, Treasurer, George F. Scull, Secretary. D. Macdonald, General Manager. Telephone, 1352 Gramercy February 1st, 1909. ANNOUNCEMENT TO EXHIBITORS. The objects of the Motion Picture Patents Company are: —