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 #:
000475
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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Defendants' Exhibit No. 140. 2925 Population Signed City or Town Clerk. Corrected to Name of City or Town. Date Name of State. * If motion pictures are being shown at present, indicate with the word active; if usually shown but the theatre or place of exhibition is now closed, temporarily for repairs or for the summer, indicate with the word inactive. Note. — We are stating the population of your town as noted on our records. If incorrect, please place the correct population opposite the words : "Corrected to." Defendants' Exhibit No. 140. Form 313 U. S, POSTAL CARD. SO Fifth Ave., New York, , 1910. Dear Sir: A list of names of places and exhibitors formerly showing Motion Pictures in your vicinity has been entered on the attached return postal card. We would appreciate your advising us of any errors or omissions on the return postal. In making corrections please follow the suggestions contained in the foot note. Thanking you for the courtesy we feel sure you will extend us, we remain, Very truly yours, MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY.