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 #:
000294
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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272 Minutes, General Film Co. The question as to the advisability of entering into negotiations for a new price schedule for film exported into Canada was discussed, and on motion, duly seconded, it was agreed that the company should continue the exclusive arrangements under which Messrs. Kleine and Waters acquired film, viz: at 8 cents, plus 2% cents royalty per foot. The Chairman called attention to a condition which had arisen concerning the management of the company's business and to certain correspondence pertaining thereto, and after the correspondence was read to the Board, it was moved by Mr. Berst, and seconded by Mr. Kleine, that no action be taken by the Board. Carried. On motion, duly seconded, the next regular meeting of the Board was ordered to be held on Monday, December 19th, instead of on Tuesday, the 13th of December. There being no further business before the Board, the meeting on motion, duly seconded, adjourned. Attest : Wm. Pelzer, Secretary. Attest : President. By Mr. Grosvenor : Q. Mr. Pelzer, these minutes for the meeting of November 10, 1910, state: "Mr. Kennedy reported on behalf of the Executive Committee that the five Canadian exchanges of Mr. P. L. Waters had been purchased on the same basis that the Canadian exchanges of Mr. Kleine were purchased, at the following figures : $ in preferred stock and $ in deferred money payments/' Now, will you fill in those figures? A. I can get those from the books. The figures were read at the time, I remember I didn't get them, but I was to get those later from Mr. Kennedy and it was overlooked, but I lie books of the company will show what the figures are. Q. I believe I have also asked you to ascertain from the books of the company the date of all authorization to the Executive Committee to purchase all the exchanges, and you so understand? A. Yes.