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 #:
000114
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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732 Louis Rosenbluh, Redirect Examination. A. I have been approached two weeks ago by the exhibitors doing business with us with cards in their hands of the General Film Company. One of the cards had the name of Worthington on as a representative. Another had Williams on as representative. These men were very active, and I have heard from them in various parts of the city. Q. Was this after the recent cancellation of your license? A. Prior to that cancellation. In fact, they had the information going around that we were in trouble again. That this time it was positive, and authentic, that after a certain period, which was within two weeks, the Greater New York Film Company would no longer receive any films, and that they had better make their arrangements immediately; in fact, very nice inducements were offered them to accept at once, and not to wait until such time as the films would no longer be supplied by the licensed manufacturers. In fact, I heard it from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Jersey, and all over. Every one of my customers pretty much was visited, and they all came and asked what truth there was to that statement. And a great many of them turned, and did not wait long enough to see what the result would be. In fact, one of the companies in Newark, Meyer & Singer, left the General Film Company a few weeks ago and made arrangements with us. When they were about to leave the General Film Company, they were told that they would not fare well by making that change. That certain early runs would be placed with the exhibitors who were competing with them, and that they would stand no chance at all. These are the very first ones who were approached. In fact, he told me that the branch managers and some one who was pretty high up in the Patents CompanyMr. Kingsley (interrupting) : All this is objected to as hearsay, and street rumor and not binding on the defendants. Mr. Caldwell : And I, in addition, make a motion to strike it all out, as not being responsive to Mr. Grosvenor's question. By Mr. Grosvenor: Q. You may state, Mr. Rosenbluh, whether it was after