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 #:
000263
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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Isaac FL Ruben, Direct Examination. 2713 price, and we were told at any time that we wanted 1 feature pictures, why, we could just put in our application and we could get it. And we done so. We made several attempts to do those things, and as a usual thing, we were* always met with a disappointment, and in fact, I was not aware of the fact that Mr. Van Duzee was affiliated at that time, and thought it strange that us, coming forward and offering to pay any reasonable price, that we was not able to get that service, and on investigation, we found out that Mr. Van Duzee owned a controlling interest in this theatre, also the Gem, and two or three others, and they were getting the preference on the releases. Q. When you say that you did not know he was affiliated at that time, you mean by that that you did not know he was affiliated with these theatres, or connected with them? A. In fact, it was not public property that he was affiliated with any theatre at all. Q. But you subsequently found out he was? A. I found out on investigation; in fact, I had one of his operators and his assistant manager, I employed them, and come to find out how it was that we did not get this service that we went after. 0 Q. Do you find that the licensed producers of motion pictures are competing with one another with respect to obtaining the favor of the exhibitors, by sending them circulars and advertising matter, and calling attention to the merit of their individual productions? A. Yes, sir; we get circulars from all of them every week. Q. Do you get circulars and literature urging you to call upon your exchanges for certain works of merit? A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you solicited from time to time by representatives of the unlicensed exchanges? A. Yes, sir; yes, sir. 4 Q. Do they offer you inducements in the way of programs or in the way of prices? A. Yes, sir. Q. During the period that you have been an exhibitor of motion pictures, have you been conversant with the prices of the programs and service? A. Yes, sir. Q. How do the prices of service at the present time compare with the prices you paid in 1909, and the early part of 1910? A. They are less. We arc paying less