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 #:
000462
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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2912 J. Wesley Rosenquest, Direct Examination. ice from the United Film Kenting Company? A. From December 22nd, 1909, to February 1st, 1910. Q. After February 1st, 1910, from what exchange did you secure service? A. From the Empire Film Exchange. Q. Was that an independent exchange? A. Yes, sir. Q. How long did you continue to take independent service from the Empire Exchange? A. From February 1st, 1910, to October 22nd, 1911. Q. After October 22nd, 1911, from what exchange did you take pictures? A. The General Film Exchange, I think it is. Q. How long did you continue to take service from the General Film Company? A. From October 21st, 1911, to September 30th, 1912. Q. And after September 30th, 1912, from what exchange did you secure your motion picture service? A. Then I went to the Western Film Exchange. Q. Did the Western Film Exchange deal in independent pictures? A. Yes, sir. Q. Have you continued to secure service from the Western Film Exchange since that time? A. Not exclusively, but most of the time. In addition to the Western Film I had the Kinemacolor from February 9th, 1913, to November 23rd, 1913, and also the General Film from September 15th to November 30th. I had three different kinds I was showing at one time, that is the Independents, the Patents and the Kinemacolor. Q. So that during the year 1913 at one time you showed three different kinds of pictures? A. Yes, sir. Q. The licensed? A. Yes, sir. Q. The unlicensed? A. Yres, sir. Q. And the Kinemacolor? A. Yes, sir. Q. And showed them at the same time? A. Yes, sir, during the same performance. Q. Since November 30th, 1913, from what exchange have you been obtaining your motion pictures? A. Western Film Company. Q. Since that time you have been using largely the independent pictures? A. Yes, sir, mostly, except during that period when I told you I used all three different kinds. Q. Are you able to interest your audiences with the unlicensed program of motion pictures? A. Oh, yes.