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 (1914)

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:
1914
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 5
Leaf #:
000150
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 21, 2023
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2600 James B. Clark, Cross Examination. at which the officers were elected, and you were made President? A. Yes, sir. Q. And the Association was at that time actually formed? A. Yes, sir. Q. And there were a large number of the manufacturers present at Buffalo in February, 1908, were there not? A. That is the only meeting that was in Buffalo, isn't it? Q. Yes. A. Yes, sir; I remember that. Q. And the manufacturers and the rental exchange men worked together in order to arrive at an arrangement which would be agreeable to both, that is, to rental exchange men, and to the manufacturers? A. Yes, I think they did. Q. You testified on direct examination that in your judgment the business of the rental exchanges was in an unstable condition about that time? A. Yes, sir. Q. And one of the purposes, or the principal purpose in forming the Film Service Association, was in order to put the business on what you deemed to be a stable basis? Mr. Kingsley: I object to the question on the ground that the witness did not make that statement. It seems to be implied by the question. Mr. Grosvexor: The question does not say that he does. Please read the question. The Examiner repeats the question, as follows: "Q. And one of the purposes, or the principal purpose in forming the Film Service Association, was in order to put the business on what you deemed to be a stable basis?" The Witness : Yes. By Mr. Grosvenor: Q. You testified on direct examination that the Film Service Association attempted to put a schedule of prices into effect? A. Yes, sir. Q. That was one of the purposes in forming the Association? A. That was a matter that came up after the formation. Q. It was one of the purposes or objects you had in mind