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 000255 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 #:
000255
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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Harry N. Marvin, Direct Examination. 233 New York City, January 17th, 1913. The hearing in this ease was resumed at the McAlpin Hotel, New York City, on this January 17th, 1913, at 10.00 o'clock A. M. Present, on behalf of the Petitioner, Hon. Edwin P. Grosvenor, Special Assistant to the Attorney General. Also John R. Darling, Special Agent. Present also, Messrs. George R. Willis and Fred R. Williams, appearing for Motion Picture Patents Company, Biograph Company, Jeremiah J. Kennedy, Harry N. Marvin, and Armat Moving Picture Company. Mr. J. H. Caldwell, appearing for William Pelzer, General Film Company, Thomas A. Edison, Inc., Kalem Company, Inc., Melies Manufacturing Company, Pathe Freres, Frank L. Dyer, Samuel Long, J. A. Berst and Gaston Melies. Mr. Henry Melville, Attorney for George Kleine, Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, Selig Polyscope Company, George K. Spoor and W. N. Selig. Thereupon HARRY N. MARVIN, the witness subpoenaed by the Petitioner, resumed the stand for further examination. Direct examination (continued) by Mr. Grosvenor: Q. Mr. Marvin, you produced some letters under subpoena relating to the formation of the Patents Company, or relating to the License Agreements. I show you a letter dated July 30th, 1908, addressed to you and signed "Thos. Armat." Will you read that (handing paper to witness)? A. (Witness examining paper.) Yes. Mr. Grosvenor : I offer it in evidence. The paper is marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 05, and is as follows : 1