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 #:
000309
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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Minutes, General Film Co. 287 On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board 1 adjourned. Attest : J. A. Berst (Signed) Secretary pro tern. Mr. Gkosvbnoe: From the minutes of April the 18th, 1911, of the Board of Directors of the General Film Company, held at 80 Fifth Avenue, New York, I offer these minutes in evidence. (The minutes referred to, found at pages 42 and 43 of the minute book, are marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 86, and are as follows : ) Petitioner's Exhibit No. 86. Minutes of an adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors of the General Film Company held at 80 Fifth Avenue, New York City, April 18th, 1911, at 2:00 P. M. Present : Messrs. Kennedy, Berst, Dyer, Kleine, Long, Lubin, Selig, Smith, Spoor and Pelzer, Secretary. Also Messrs. Blackton, Marvin, Paul Melies and Singhi. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Mr. Kennedy made a general report on the business of the Company since the last meeting. On behalf of the Executive Committee, Mr. Kennedy reported that the Mitchell Film Exchange, whose business was purchased by this company, had been paid the full amount of the cash portion of the purchase price, and on motion, duly seconded, the action of the Executive Committee was approved. On motion, duly seconded, the President was authorized to engage Mrs. Ruth Dolese for the Educational Film Department at a salary of $60.00 per week. After a general discussion of the question of additional branch exchanges, the officers were authorized to make arrangements for the opening of branch exchanges at Mil wan