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 #:
000474
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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1 2924 Defendants' Exhibit No. 139. noted on our records. If incorrect, please place the correct population opposite the words: "Corrected to." Defendants' Exhibit No. 139. Form 299 U. S. POSTAL CARD. City or Town Clerk. 2 Dear Sir: The list of names of places and exhibitors, usually showing Motion Pictures in your City or Town, which you have so courteously furnished us, has been duplicated on the attached return postal card. We would appreciate your advising us on the return postal, whether the Places of Exhibition indicated by ? are at present active or inactive. Thanking you, we remain, Yours very truly, MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY. U. S. POSTAL CARD. (Reply Card.) MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY, 80 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Name of Theatre or Name of Active or Inactive * 4 Place of Exhibition. Exhibitor. The above is a list of the places now exhibiting, or that usually exhibit, Motion Pictures in this vicinty.