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 #:
000131
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:
May 23, 2024
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Bulletins to Exhibitors. 109 5. Exhibitors on the Facific Coast should allow at least 14 days' time for the transmission of funds and the return of the receipt by the Patents Company. 6. The following license fees have thus far been fixed: For the period from Feb. 1 to March 8, 1909 $10.00 " " " March 8 to April 1, 1909 6.00 " " " April 1 to May 1, 1909 8.50 7. In order to secure licensed service after April 12th, every exhibitor must have a receipt for license fees at the rate of $2.00 per week from February 1, 1909, or from the time when he began using licensed film (whether supplied by a licensed exchange or otherwise) up to May 1, 1909. REPLEVIN SUITS. The film licensed by the Patents Company is restricted to use in licensed theatres only. If the film is shown in an unlicensed theatre, that constitutes a breach of the license agreement under which the Manufacturer leased the film and gives the Licensed Manufacturer the right to immediate possesion of the film. The Licensed Manufacturers have seized film in the hands of the following unlicensed theatres, the owners of which have been made defendants in replevin suits brought within the past ten days: New York City: John Steinberger, 16th St. and 5th Ave. Henry Hemleb, 2616 Atlantic Avenue. Jefferson Amusement Co., George Hilkemeier, 1537 Broadway. George Schwartz, 344 Fifth Avenue. Jefferson Amusement Co., George Hilkemeier, 1740 Fulton Street. Philadelphia, Pa. : Standard Theatre, S. A. Horowitz, 1024 South Street. Empire Theatre, J. Stanford, 4652 Frankfort Ave.