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 #:
000516
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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491 William H. Swanson, Cross Examination. tion picture films for your Chicago office, aud what did it amount to, in November, 1908? A. That would be impossible to answer from memory, owing to the fact in those days the system of selling film was somewhat different from to-day. No regular releases, and I would sometimes go oyer to the various representatives who were selling film, and buy maybe $5,000 worth, $10,000 worth, or $25, 000 worth at one time, without regard to duplications, and without regard to the fact that Ave already had them on hand. That I had the same subject on hand. Q. Don't you know, as a matter of fact, that they did have releases in November, 1908? A. I never heard of such a thing. Q. That is, two months before the Patents Company was formed. A. Two months before the Patents Company was formed; November, 1908? Eefer to your notes, please, and get yourself straightened out. When it was formed, I have no knowledge of. It was never announced until 1909. 1 never heard of it until three days before this meeting at the Imperial Hotel. Q. That was on the 11th of January, wasn't it? A. January 9th, 1909. Q. I am asking you in reference to November, 1908? A. I beg pardon. Q. Your apology is accepted. A. 1907 I had reference to there. Yes, 1908, they did have release dates in November. Q. Yes. Now, the reasons you gave for not answering my questions are , not true as to November, 1908, are they? A. Not altogether so, no. I paid no attention to the release dates. Q. Then I will ask the stenographer to repeat the question to you. The stenographer repeats the question. A. It would be impossible for me to answer that question. I have not any conception of what I bought. Q. Have you any books that would enable you to say what you purchased? A. I perhaps have. I am not certain as to that. Q. You don't know whether you have or not? A.