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 #:
000559
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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George K. Spook, Direct Examination. 3001 Mr. Grosvenor: Did you drink Apollinaris 1 until three o'clock? The Witness: Yes, sir, Apollinaris, and some more stuff, too. By Mr. Caldwell: Q. Mr. Swanson swears he spent two days and two nights with you gentlemen in the same room at the Republican Club? A. He did not. He was not there, only the time I have mentioned. In fact, his effects were at some 2 other place in New York, and he might have slept with his clothes on for all I know. Q. Mr. SwTanson was asked the following question to which he gave the following answer : "Q. Was anything said by any of these gentlemen as to the formation of the Patents Company and the proposed change in the manner of doing business? A. Yes, sir, there wras." Nowr, was the formation of the Patents Company discussed between you that night? A. It might have been referred to, but not as a matter of discussion. Q. And reading further from his examination : "Q. State 3 to the best of your recollection what was said? A. Of course, it was about the only matter that was discussed during the two days that we were in that room. Q. You knew at that time that the two factions had gotten together, and that the Patents Company had been organized some weeks earlier? A. Yes, I knew it, for the reason that I had been furnished with a typewritten copy three days before this Imperial Hotel meeting, by an outsider, who submitted it to me, and gave me the idea of the thing. I knew it before any one else did, in the exchange business, other than the manufacturers who were in the exchange business. The conversation in the room — Mr. Selig, Mr. Kleine and Mr. Spoor endeavored to show me what a great benefit it would be to themselves to have this thing go through, as they had outlined it, or as it had been outlined." Did you, or Mr. Selig or Mr. Kleine endeavor to show to this witness what a good thing it would be for yourselves if it went through? A. I am quite sure we did not go into the matter at all. Q. Was that matter discussed at all? A. No, not to my knowledge.