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 000152 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 #:
000152
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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130 Harry N. Marvin, Direct Examination. 1 Thereupon HARRY N. MARVIN, resumed the stand for further examination : Direct examination (continued) by Mr. Grosvenor: Q. I show you Mr. Marvin, an article in the Moving Picture World, Volume 2, page 138, issue of February 22, 1908, purporting to be a statement by Vice-President H. N. Marvin. Do you recall making that statement, Mr. Marvin? A. I did not make the statement, and some of the items in the statement, I am positive that I did not make. 2 Q. Do you remember making a statement about that time to the Moving Picture World relating to the formation of this body known as Edison licensees? A. I have no recollection of making such a statement, Q. Did you make this statement to any other papers at this time in connection with or relation to the position of your company towards the association that you refused to join? Mr. Caldwell: I object to the use of the word "association" in connection with the Edison licensees. 3 There is no evidence in this case showing that there is any such association, and it is unfair to put that question in that particular way until proof has been offered of that matter, and I object to the question. A. I have no definite recollection of having made any statement to newspapers of any sort at that time. Q. Mr. Marvin, I show you an article in the same volume at page 205, being the issue of March the 14th, 1908, and purporting to be a copy of a statement issued and signed by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. Is that a copy 4 of a statement issued by that company on or about that time? A. It appears to be. Q. Was that issued to the trade under the title, "The Facts?" A. I believe it was. Q. Did you assist in the preparation of that article? A. According to my best recollection that article was prepared by our counsel. Q. Did you assist in the preparation of that article? A. I don't recall that I did.