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 #:
00098
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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716 Louis Rosenbluh, Cross Examination. Q. When was the release date system for subjects put into effect? A. Under the Edison licensees. Q. Back in 1908? A. Yes, sir. Q. Then the present system of releases covered by the reels of the Motion Picture Patents Company is not a material change from the old system that you had under the Edison licensees? A. No, sir. Q. With respect to releases? A. No, sir. Q. Do you know whether the manufacturers of the independent film also controlled their business by release dates? A. It is advertised on release dates. I don't know how they control it, though. Q. But they do so advertise? A. Yes, sir. Q. And do they advertise their releases? A. Yes, sir. Q. That is, they advertise them in the trade papers? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you advertise at all in these trade papers? A. No, sir. Q. In 1908, after the adoption of the agreement with the Edison licensees, you only purchased film or rented film from the Edison licensees? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you say in your direct examination at page 363 that you could do anything you pleased as to your purchases in 1908, or words to that effect? I call your attention to folio 3 on page 363. Was this question asked you: "Q. How about 1908 and 1909? A. We could do anything we pleased. There was no restriction of any kind. Buy whatever we pleased and serve whoever we pleased." Do you remember that question and answer? A. Yes. Those dates should be 1907 and 1908. Q. Well, now, could you do whatever you pleased about 1908? A. The early part of 1908, yes, sir. Q. How long in 1908? A. Until the license agreements. Q. When did they go into effect? A. In March, I believe. Q. Could you in 1908 after March, do what you pleased with respect to buying and leasing? A. We could buy. Q. Could you lease as you liked? A. We could lease to exhibitors. Q. You could not under your Edison license agreement, lease to other rental exchanges, could you? A. I said we could lease to exhibitors. Q. No, I am not asking you what you said. I know