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 #:
000308
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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286 Minutes^ General Film Co. 1 Petitioner's Exhibit No. 85. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GENERAL FILM COMPANY. Held at No. 80 Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York, on Wednesday, the 15th day of March, 1911, at the hour of 1 o'clock P. M. Present : J. J. Kennedy, Sigismund Lubin, Albert Smith, George Kleine, George Spoor, Samuel Long, J. A. Berst; (also H. N. Marvin and Paul Melies). ^ A majority of the directors being present, Mr. J. J. Ken nedy called the meeting to order and took the chair, Mr. J. A. Berst acting as Secretary of the meeting. Mr. J. J. Kennedy gave notice to the Board of Waiver for this meeting from Wm. N. Selig, Gaston Melies and F. L. Dyer. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board proceeded to the election of officers. Seven votes were cast, all for the following named persons who were thereupon declared to be elected to the following offices : President, J. J. Kennedy; Vice-President, George Kleine ; Treasurer, J. A. Berst. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board proceeded to the election of a Secretary. Seven votes were cast, all for Mr. Wm Pelzer, who was thereupon declared to be elected Secretary. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board proceeded to the election of two members of the Executive Committee. Seven votes were cast, all for the following named persons, who were thereupon declared to be elected 4 members of the Executive Committee : Albert Smith, J. A. Berst. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board proceeded to the appointment of the auditing Committee. Seven votes were cast, all for the following named persons, who were thereupon appointed to act as the auditing committee for the ensuing year. Samuel Long, George K. Spoor.