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 000282 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 #:
000282
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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260 Minutes, General Film Co. Q. Then the officers and the Directors of the General Film Company were elected in 1910, in the offices of the Patents Company? A. The meeting was held at that office, yes. Q. And the officers were there elected? A. Not all of them. Q. Mr. Pelzer, these minutes, reading at page 4 from the minute book of this meeting, state : "On motion, duly seconded, it was voted that the Executive Committee be authorized to negotiate with the Motion Picture Patents Company for licenses to conduct Film Exchanges in any and all cities that that company may be disposed to grant licenses, or at such points as in the judgment of the Committee would be most advantageous to this company." Do you recall that resolution? A. Yes, sir. Q. Was there any discussion on it? A. I can't remember specifically, I imagine there must have been. Q. I read into the record from the minutes those present, as shown by the minutes of that date : Kennedy, Dyer, Berst, Long, Rock, Kleine, and Lubin. The minutes, reading on (reading) : "On motion, duly seconded, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : "Resolved that the Executive Committee be and it hereby is authorized and empowered to make preparation for and start the business of the company, through branches in the City of New York, and at such other points in the United States as in the judgment of the committee would serve the best interests of the company ; and further Resolved that the Executive Committee be and it hereby is authorized and empowered to purchase the business of any existing licensed motion picture exchange at such price and terms and to be paid for in preferred stock or money or both in such proportion as in the judgment of the committee would be a profitable investment for the company; and further Resolved, that for the purpose of facilitating carrying on the company's business at any branches that may be established, the Executive Committee be and it