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 #:
000482
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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2932 Defendants* Exhibit No. 143. Defendants' Exhibit No. 143. Exhibitor— Form 10. MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY, 80 Fifth Avenue, New York. February 15, 1909. LICENSED EXHIBITOR. Town— City State Street Address — No Street — Avenue. Name of Theatre " " Exhibitor Dear Sir : Our records show the above. Kindly fill in any blanks, correct mistakes, and furnish any of the information you have that is called for on the blanks below. Yours very truly, MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY. About Your Theatre. Ruled out: Have you received your License Certificate? Answer Yes or No Number of seats " " shows given each day " " days you are open each week " " reels used at each show " " illustrated songs each show Length of each show minutes. Tf Vaudeville is given — length of Vaudeville each show minutes. About other Motion Picture Theatres in your locality. 1. Name of Theatre Address No Street — Avenue. Nana1 of Owner Number of Seats Distance from your Theatre