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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)

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 #:
000268
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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246 Harry N. Marvin, Direct Examination. 1 Petitioner's Exhibit No. 75. Thomas A. Edison, C. H. Wilson, President. General Manager. Frank L. Dyer A. Westee, Vice President Secretary and Treasurer, and General Counsel. EDISON MANUFACTURING CO. Main Office and Factory, ^ Orange, N. J. EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCOPES AND FILMS. (Photo of Mr. Edison.) Trade Mark 10 Fifth Avenue, New York. Thomas A. Edison 304 Wabash Avenue, Chicago. Cable Address : "Kuriliam, New York." In replying address the company, not the individual and mention these initials. Address your reply to 3 Orange, N. J., Dec. 24, 1908. H. N. Marvin, Esq., 11 East 14th Street, New York, N. Y. Dear Sir: — Enclosed please find rough draft of the projecting machine license which attempts to embody the conditions provided in the film licenses, and also such further conditions as wore discussed by the Manufacturers at their recent meetings. Also, rough draft of the exchange license. For your guidance, there is also enclosed a copy of the old license agreement and you will see that this new one is drawn in the form of a license instead of a mere contract, this form possibly giving ns a better opportunity to sue for infringement if such a necessity should arise. Mr. Dyer is calling a meeting of the proposed projecting machine manufacturing licensees for Tuesday, December 29th, at 3 P. M. at No. 10 Fifth Avenue, and of course he