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 #:
000398
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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376 Louis Rosenbluh, Direct Examination. the Film Service Association or the Edison licensees in that time in the trade? A. Yes, sir, quite an increase. Q. After the formation of the General Film Company and after it acquired these licensed exchanges in the City of New York, speaking from your observation of the business and the course of the prices, state whether or not there was any change in prices from the rental exchange to the exhibitors? A. There was a gradual increase in price. Q. After the formation of the General Film Company? A. Yes, sir. Q. About what did that aggregate? A. I should imagine about 40% increase. Q. Did you have any talks with any of the organizers or any of the licensed manufacturers in regard to the formation of the General Film Company and its plans or purposes? A. I did have one conversation with Mr. Berst. Q. When was that? A. About the time of the cancellation of the license; and I also had conversations from time to time with Mr. Rock of the Vita graph Company, who used to meet with the rest of the exchange owners at social gatherings for the purpose of talking over trade conditions, and so forth. Mr. Rock used to express himself then as an exchange man, what the purpose of the General Film Company was, about the time that it was being organized. Mr. Berst, in a conversation with — Mr. Caldwell (Interrupting) : Any conversations between the witness and Mr. Berst and Mr. Rock, or others, is objected to. It is understood without repeating it? Mr. Grosvenor : All right. I introduce the conversations in part as admissions on the part of those defendants. Q. Mr. Berst, to whom you refer, is the Berst of Pathe Freres? A. Yes, sir. Q. And the Rock to whom you refer, is of the Vitagraph Company? A. Yes, sir. Q. Now, please go on. What did Mr. Berst first say in these conversations? A. Mr. Berst's statements were — I came over to see him, whether or not he could not arrange a meeting with Mr. Fox, who was anxious to get in touch