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 #:
000404
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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1022 Charles W. Boyer, Direct Examination. 1 exhibited the unlicensed motion pictures of "Pilgrim's Progress." We shall be pleased to have your explanation. Yours truly, MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY. By J. B. JB/ACL. 3 By Mr. Grosvenor: Q. I also show you another letter, dated January 22nd, 1913. Is that another letter received by you from the Patents Company (handing paper to witness) ? A. (witness examining paper) : Yes, sir. Mr. Grosvenor : I offer it in evidence. The paper offered is marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 185 and is as follows : Petitioner's Exhibit No. 185. MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY 80 Fifth Avenue, New York January 22nd, 1913. Mr. Charles W. Boyer, Academy of Music, Hagerstown, Md. Dear Sir : Re: Rosedale Theatre, Chambersburg, Pa. Replying to your letter of January 14th, relating to the Rosedale Theatre of Chambersburg, Pa. Unless you can arrange to use only motion pictures licensed by this Company in your Rosedale Theatre at Chambersburg, it will be necessary for us to cancel your license. Please inform us at your earliest convenience whether or not you will be able to make these arrangments. Yours truly, MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY. By J. B. JB/ACL.