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 #:
000166
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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2616 Charles A. Feinler, Direct Examination. Q. At the time you went into the motion picture business, had you heard anything about law suits between the various interests with respect to patents? A. No, I did not pay much attention to that. Q. I don't mean whether you paid much attention to it or not, but had you heard in general, whether or not there was any litigation? A. Yes. Q. Was there such a rumor in the trade? A. Yes. Q. What percentage of the motion picture service that you exhibit would you say consists of plays and dramatic entertainment? A. Well, I would say about nine-tenths, and possibly stronger than that. Q. Prior to your taking service from the General Film Company, were you able to advertise a program in advance, and to exhibit the program on the day designated in your advertisement? A. No, sir. Q. Did you have any difficulty with respect to keeping your service clear at that time? A. No, I did not. Q. But you did find it impossible to advertise a program in advance with any certainty of delivering it? A. Oh, yes. Q. Are you now able to advertise a program in advance? A. Yes, sir. Q. How long have you been able to do so? A. Over a year. Q. Do you, as a matter of fact, advertise in advance? A. Yes. Q. Do you have any difficulty now with respect to keeping your shows clear? A. No, sir. Q. Do you make up your program yourself, or do you permit the General Film Company to make it up for you? A. The General Film Company fixes up the programs for us. Q. Do you ever ask for certain special films? A. I have asked for them, yes. Q. And have you been able to get them from the General Film Company? A. Whenever they had them, I could get them, yes. Q. Have they shown a desire to co-operate with you in furnishing the sort of a program and the service that you desire? A. Yes, sir. Q. Has the price of motion picture service to your the