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)

Page scan 00042 from 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 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 4
Leaf #:
00042
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:
September 12, 2024
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1892 William Brandt, Redirect Examination. Q. What were the other manufacturers you mentioued besides the Universal? A. The Universal now is releasing thirty-five a week, as is the Mutual. Thirty-five each, each week. Q. How many is the General Film Company releasing, today? A. Fortytwo. Q. Are you sure of that? A. I am quite positive. That is, not including specials. Once in a while they get an extra special out, and that brings up the number. Q. One of the defendants testified here that the licensed manufacturers are bringing out over sixty new reels a wTeek? A. Including the specials, it probably amounts to that much. Q. Have you included the specials in giving the number for the Universal? A. Oh, yes. Q. Why did you include the specials in the Universal number and not in the number you gave to the licensed manufacturers? A. The Universal in its advertisements states that it releases thirty-five reels a week, as does the Mutual, which allows an exhibitor five a day without repeating. The General Film Company releases forty-two, but does not make mention of the specials. Q. Let us take, then, the different manufacturers. Now, you have given the weekly output of the Universal, the Mutual, Warner's, the Famous Players. You also mentioned the Kinemacolor. HowT many do they bring out a week? A. I don't know the Kinemacolor output. Q. What other manufacturers are there? A. There is any number of small manufacturers, or, leather, exchanges that import film direct from Europe. Q. They could not supply you a satisfactory supply to keep your theatre running, any very long supply? A. They could for a while. Redirect examination by Mr. Kingsley: Q. How many subjects did you say the Famous Players release a year? A. Thirty a year. Q. That means thirty long specials? A. Thirty regular Broadway plays. Q. And each of them contains four to five reels? A. Four to five reels.