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 #:
000492
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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470 Louis Rosenbluh, Direct Examination. 1 By Mr. Grosvenor: Q. That letter refers to the advertisement, Exhibit No. 93, printed at page 375 of the record? A. Yes, sir. Q. There is a telegram here from the Selig Polyscope Company, dated April 29th, 1912, addressed to the Greater New York Film Company, and referring to a negative of uThe Coming of Columbus." Was that another "special"? A. That was one of the first of the so-called "specials" exclusively controlled by the General Film Company. Theretofore, Selig had supplied us with other pictures of a simi3 lar nature, such as "Cinderella," which was also in three reels and one subject, in the ordinary course of supply. Q. This telegram reads: "The General Film Company purchased and control entirely the negative of the 'Coming of Columbus,' and all positive prints therefrom." I think yesterday you referred to this incident in your testimony. Is that right? A. No, I mentioned the "Landing of Roosevelt." Q. And who was it that produced "The Landing of Roosevelt?" A. Pa the. Q. There was another "special" you were unable to ob3 tain? A. That one I did get, but this one, "The Landing of Columbus" I did not get. Mr. Grosvenor: I offer the telegram in evidence. The paper is marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 12:>, and is as follows: Petitioner's Exhibit No. 123. Form 200 THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY 4 Incorporated 25,000 Offices in America Cable Service to all the World Theo. N. Vail, President Belvidere Brooks, General Manager Chicago, 111. Apr. 29th/12. Greater New York Film Rental Co. 116 E. 14th St., New York The general film company purchased and control entirely