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 #:
000470
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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448 Louis Rosenbluh, Direct Examination. 1 The paper marked is Petitioner's Exhibit No. 103, and is as follows : Petitioner's Exhibit No. 103. MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY 80 Fifth Avenue, New York 2 July 13, 1910. Greater New York Film Rental Co. 116 East Fourteenth St. City. Gentlemen : Replying to yours of July 11th, relative to the Bohemian Hall, N. Y. City. We will grant a new license to this place on condition that they furnish a written agreement to use only licensed 3 film for a period of six months. If this agreement is not furnished on or before July 18th, discontinue service and notify this Company. Kindly forward the agreement to this Company. Yours truly, MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY JB/CM By J B X. 32 Mr. Grosvenoe: I also offer this letter, which you have produced, dated July 21st, 1911. The paper is marked Petitioners Exhibit No. 101, and is as follows: