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 2
Leaf #:
00054
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:
June 13, 2024
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672 William Fox, Direct Examination. am satisfied. Just see that they do not cancel my license and job me, if you are my friend, and everything will be all right." With that I left, sir. Q. Then you went off? A. I did, sir. Q. Back to your business? A. Yes, sir. Q. You may state whether or not after September, 1911, in the year 1911, you received a notice of cancellation from the Motion Picture Patents Company? A. I have got those in my pocket. I would like to get the exact dates from the originals, if you don't mind. Q. All right. A. (Witness produces papers.) Q. Can you answer that question, yes or no? A. I did. Q. Have you that notice with you? A. I have. Q. Please let me see it? A. (Witness produces paper.) Mr. Grosvenor: The witness produces a letter dated November 14th, 1911, on the letterhead of the Motion Picture Patents Company, addressed to the Greater New York Film Rental Company, signed Motion Picture Patents Company, by H. N. Marvin, Vice-President. I offer it in evidence. The paper is marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 137, and is as follows : Petitioner's Exhibit No. 137. MOTION PICTUKE PATENTS COMPANY 80 Fifth Avenue, New York November 14th, 1911. Greater New York Film Rental Company, 116 East 14th Street, New York City. Gentlemen : Pursuant to the right reserved by this Company under the first clause of Section Nineteen of the Conditions of License forming a part of the Exchange License Agreement existing between you and this Company, and bearing date the twentieth day of January, Nineteen Hundred and Nine, we hereby notify you of our intention to terminate said