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 #:
000269
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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Harry N. Marvin, Direct Examination. 247 would like to have Mr. Kennedy and yourself present. He has, in addition to those film manufacturers who are also machine manufacturers, invited Mr. Baxter Morton, of the Powers Company, and Mr. A. C. Roebuck, of the Enterprise Optical Company, of Chicago. Mr. Dyer believes that these are the only ones who were mentioned at the Manufacturers' meetings, but if there are any others whom you think should be included, Mr. Dyer would be greatly obliged if you will let him know so that they can also be invited. Yours very truly, (Signed) George F. Scull, GFS/ARK. Assistant to Vice-President. Encs. Mr. Grosvenor: I offer in evidence letter dated December 30th, 1908, addressed to H. N. Marvin, and signed G. F. Scull. Paper marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 70, and is as follows :