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 #:
000324
Language:
English
Collection:
Early Cinema and Government & Law
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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William H. Swanson, Direct Examination. stead of the exhibitors, in their effort to secure business away from each other. Q. Have you now stated to the best of your recollection, the substance of that interview between the manufacturers and this committee on the rental exchanges? A. With the exception that Mr. Dyer in his effort to pacify us in his refusal to change these obnoxious features of the contract, stated that it was a very beautiful organization and one that they had been working very laboriously to accomplish, and they now had the situation pretty well in hand, and had competition shut out, and those that were fortunate enough to secure licenses, would undoubtedly make more money than they ever did in their lives. That they had absolute control of the business. Mr. Caldwell: It is understood that my objection relates to the whole of the conversation detailed by the witness — as incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial. Mr. Grosvenor : I am agreeable to that. Q. State whether or not Mr. Marvin or Mr. Dyer said anything about the termination of hostilities that had been in existence between the two factions represented by Mr. Marvin and Mr. Dyer at the time. Can you recall whether anything Avas said about that at that time or anything done? A. Mr. Dyer, in his efforts to show the harmony existing, and to demonstrate to us the commercial plane that the future held out, he arose from his desk, and walked over to Mr. Marvin, who was standing in front of the mantel piece, and put his arm around him, and said, "Gentlemen, you can see, we are the greatest of friends, where heretofore we have been enemies for years, and let this be a guide for your actions in harmonizing among each other, as we have done among ourselves." Q. This meeting was at the offices of the Patents Company? A. Yes, sir, at 10 Fifth Avenue. Q. Did the committee of the rental exchanges then return and report back to the Association? A. Yes. Q. On the same day? A. On the same day. Q. State whether or not when you pointed out to Mr. Dyer your objection to the clause which permitted cancellation without cause, he said anything about not ter