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 000311 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 #:
000311
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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Minutes, General Film Co. 289 made by Mr. Kennedy as President of his purchases of these rental exchanges? A. I may say Mr. Grosvenor, that anything handed to me in the shape of a written report was embodied in the minutes. Q. I have pointed out to you several places in these minutes where blanks have hern left, where the reports have not been copied? A. Yes, 1 have that particular instance in mind. Q. And which indicates in some cases at least, that there were omissions? A. Yes. Q. The minutes show that the minutes of the Board of Directors of May 15, 1911, for June 12, 1911, and for July 17, 1911, were held at the offices of the Patents Company? A. Yes. Mr. Grosvenob : 1 offer the minutes of the meeting of August 14, 1911, of the General Film Company, found at pages J 8 and 49 of the minute book. The minutes of the meeting of August 14, 1911, of the Board of Directors of the General Film Company are marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 87, and are as follows : Petitioners Exlaibit No. 87. Minnies of an adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors of General Film Company, held at No. 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City, August 14, 1911, at 2 P. M. Present : Messrs. Kennedy, Dyer, Kleine, Long, Lubin, Selig, Smith, Spoor and Pelzer, Secretary; also Messrs. Marvin and Paul Melies. The meeting was called to order at No. 80 Fifth Avenue and on motion, duly seconded, the meeting adjourned to the new office of the company at No. 200 Fifth Avenue. After inspection of the new office, the meeting was resumed. Mr. Kennedy made a general report on the business of the company since the directors' meeting held in the month of May, and also reported the purchase of the J. D. Wheelan Film Exchange, Dallas, Texas, and the II. Lieber Company, Indianapolis, Ind. lie also stated that nego