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 #:
000208
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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1434 H. N. Marvin, Direct Examination. failure in every sense of the word on account of the Independent competition. We cordially invite the accounts of all theatres who are dissatisfied with Trust methods and service and who are now dealing with the Trust; also all Independent theatres desiring a high grade Independent service. We have placed orders for all the best American made Independent films which together with the immense stock we have of licensed goods, which is strictly up to date and will enable us to give a service, for either class of theatres, which will be second to none. The present licensed theatres can use our service in such a way that they need run very little of the Independent films at present if they so desire, or they can use the best Independent film from our stock with a second reel always of choice licensed film, thereby getting their patrons accustomed to the great merit of the Independent releases. We are resigning of our own free will from the Motion Picture Patents Co. and inasmuch as we have always kept the rules and regulations without any variation whatever, we are positive that they cannot truthfully cast any slurs on our record during the past. We are positive also, from our knowledge of the present situation, that the antagonistic tactics of the Trust is going to cause a large number of high grade and financially Independent exchange men, as well as theatre owners, to go to the Independent cause, and we believe never have the prospects in the history of the business, been brighter for theatres using the Independent service. We hope to hold the great majority of our present customers and believe we will; only asking the opportunity to convince them that the Independents have the best of the business at the present and the brightest prospects for the future. We will be pleased to hear from you and if you are open for a proposition, whether you are licensed or Independent, we can submit you a service which we are positive will enable you to increase your business very much during the coming season. We sincerely trust you will send us your best wishes for our success on the Independent side.