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 #:
000313
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:
June 13, 2024
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Government Exhibit No. 9. 931 advise you to the contrary. The exhibitor's license covers 1 all projecting machines purchased before February 1, 1909, which the exhibitor uses in the licensed theatre, and such machines continue to be covered by the license so long as the theatre uses the licensed film and pays the required fees. The exhibitor may not use any machine purchased after February 1, 1909, to show licensed film unless it bears the official license plate of the Patents Company. EXCHANGE LETTER HEAD. All licensed exchanges should arrange at once to place in a conspicuous position on their letterheads, a reference to the licensees of the Patents Company, containing substantially the following information: "This Exchange is licensed by the Motion Picture Patents Company and furnishes an exclusive licensed service, using only the films made by the following licensed manufacturers : American Mutoscope & Biograph Co., Edison Manufacturing Company, Essanay Film Manufacturing Co., Kalem Company, George Klein e, Lubin Manufacturing Co., Pathe Freres, Selig Polyscope Co., Vitagraph Company of America." RELEASE DAY. The definition of "release day" will hereafter be considered to be as follows: The release day of each film issued by the licensed manufacturers is the first day upon which the film becomes the property of the exchange, and is the first day upon which the film may be used, handled, controlled, shipped, forwarded or delivered for use by the exchange receiving it from the manufacturer. The release day begins at 8 A. M. upon the day designated by the manufacturer as the release day for each film. MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY. Mr. Grosvenor: Now, what is your pleasure in regard to Mtr. Swaab? Mr. Kixgsley: I would like a ruling from the Court as to whether Mr. Swaab is to answer that question or not. 2