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 000263 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 #:
000263
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. 241 Mr. Grosvenor: I offer in evidence copy of * letter dated November 6th, 1908, to Mr. George Kleine. Paper marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. TO, and is as follows : Petitioners Exhibit No. 70. Mr. George Kleine, c/o. Kleine Optical Co., 52 State Street, 2 Chicago, 111. Dear Mr. Kleine: Mr. Philipp has been giving his attention to the Berst contract for the last week and we have had several protractive conferences with him. He has altered somewhat the general plan of the contract, but I think the alterations have been desirable. We have agreed upon all of the main points, but nothing in the way of closing the matter can be done until the return of Mr. Eastman, who will be away 3 until the 19th. We have every reason to expect, however, that matters can be cleared up with all parties very soon after the 19th. I fear, however, you cannot expect any more definite news until after that date. Nothing has arisen that will modify your relationship with the affair. Yours very truly, HNM/REL. Q. In Exhibit No. 70, being a letter addressed by you to George Kleine, dated November 6, 1908, you state, "Mr. Philipp lias been giving his attention to the Berst contract for the last week." By the Berst contract, you mean the license agreement subsequently entered into between Pathe Freres and the Patents Company? A. I do. Q. The Mr. Eastman referred to in the letter, is Mr. George Eastman, President of the Eastman Kodak Company? A. It is.