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 3
Leaf #:
000193
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:
September 21, 2023
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H. N. Marvin, Direct Examination. 1419 Mr. Kingsley : I offer it in evidence. 1 Mr. Grosvenor: Same objection. The paper offered is received in evidence and marked "Defendants' Exhibit No. 93," and is as follows : Defendants' Exhibit No. 93. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, United States Indian Service, Crow Agency, Mont., 2 July 2nd, 1910. The Motion Picture Patents Co., New York, N. Y. Gentlemen : I have been detailed by the Office of Indian Affairs to carry on an educational campaign against tuberculosis and other infectious diseases among the Indians and employees of the Indian Service, and in connection with the work am desirous of making use of the stereopticon views and motion pictures. 3 I, therefore, request permission to use the motion picture camera which the Department is about to purchase in your city, the object being for educational purposes only. Yours very truly, FERDINAND SHOEMAKER, Physician Expert & S. D. A. By Mr. Kingsley : Q. I show you a letter under the letterhead of the Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs at Washington, signed C. F. Hanke, Acting Commissioner. Did you receive that letter? A. Yes. Mr. Kingsley: I offer it in evidence. Mr. Grosvenor: Same objection. The paper offered is received in evidence and marked "Defendants' Exhibit No. 94," and is as follows :