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 #:
000510
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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295G Charles L. Worthington, Direct Examination. A. Well, the only knowledge I had of it was from newspapers. Q. Well, you knew it from newspapers, didn't you? A. Yes. Q. Yon read the trade papers, and you followed the progress of the litigation as far as you could from the trade papers, didn't you? A. Yes, I saw — I would never make any attempt — I never did — in fact, I am very much what you might call a poor reader. I don't read much. And things like that would possibly he shown to you by exhibitors or one thing or another. Q. And they were shown to you, weren't they? A. Yes. Q. So that you had occasion to know of these facts? A. Yes. Q. And these are the things that were talked about when you went around to see the exhibitors? A. Yes. During the course of conversation, that would come up sometimes. Q. Whom did you take your orders from in February, 1913? A. As to what. Q. Who was your superior? A. Mr. Boushey. Q. Where was he located? A. No. 200 Fifth Avenue. Q. What was his title? A. I don't believe he had a title. He was acting in the capacity of General Manager, but he did not have the title. Q. Who had preceded him as General Manager? A. P. 1j. Waters. Q. And Boushey acted as chief in the interim while they were getting another manager? A. Well, he was acting in the capacity of General Manager, but I never knew him to have the title. I don't believe he ever signed his name as General Manager. CHARLES L. WORTHING TON, a witness produced on behalf of the defendants, of lawful age, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, deposed: Direct examination by Mr. Caldwell: Q. Where do you live, Mr. Worthington? A. New York. Q. And in what business are you engaged? A. Manager of the Special Feature Department, General Film Company.