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 #:
000511
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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Charles L. Worthington, Direct Examination. 2951 Q. In what business were you engaged in the month of February, 1913? A. Commencing the week of February 10th, I was engaged by the General Film Company. Q. When did you first enter their employ? A. On the 11th. I started work on the 11th. I was engaged on the 10th. Q. You have heard the testimony that I have just read, the questions and answers from the redirect examination of Mr. Rosenbluh, have you? A. Yes, sir. Q. So that it will not be necesary for me to read that to you again. Now, did you at any time preceding say the 14th of February, leave any of your General Film Company cards, bearing your name, with any of the customers of the Greater New Yrork Film Rental Company? A. No. sir. Q. When did you have your cards made? A. Either the 13th or 14th. On the 11th— on the afternoon of the 11th they asked whether we had cards. I told them I did not have any, and they advised us to have some printed. I had them printed on the 12th, but don't believe that I got them before the 13th. Q. Were you the only Worthington connected with the General Film Company at that time in New Yrork? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you solicit the business of any of the customers of the Greater New York Film Rental Company about that time? A. No, sir. Q. Did you say to any exhibitors that the Greater New York Film Rental Company was in trouble again? A. No, sir. Q. Or that the Greater New York Film Rental Company would no longer receive any films? A. No, sir. Q. Or that they had better make arrangements immediately with the General Film Company for a supply? A. No, sir. Q. And not wait until such time as the films would no longer be supplied by the licensed manufacturers? A. No, sir. Q. State what, if any, instructions yon received from the General Film Company when you started out? A. Keep away from the houses using Greater New York service. Q. Did they tell you not to solicit the business of the