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 #:
000605
Language:
English
Collection:
Early Cinema and Government & Law
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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SlEGMUXD LUBIN. DIRECT EXAMINATION. 3047 "? I forget his name1, a man which sold the patent right to the Biograph. I have forgotten his name. Q. How long did you remain in Europe? A. I remained in Europe a year, about a year. Q. Do you recall about what time yon came back from Europe? A. I came back after the Biograph won the case against Edison, and a decision was given in its favor at that time. Q. What was that date? Mr. Grosvexor: That was either in 1902 or 1903. You refer to Judge Wallace's decision? The Witness : Yes, sir. Mr. Grosvexor: Then I object to that. Mr. Kixgsley: I object to any cross examination of this witness just now, and move to strike it out as misleading. It is not the proper time for cross examination. Mr. Grosvexor: I object to this testimony, as to the witness going to Europe and coming back, the same having been six or seven years — The Witness : I took my whole factory over there. Mr. Grosvexor: — prior to the formation of the combination alleged to be unlawful. By Mr. Kingsley: Q. You say you took your whole factory to Europe and stayed there for about a year? A. Y"es, sir. Q. And you came back, would you say, about what year? When did you come back? Have you any idea? A. 1 can't give the dates. Q. After coming back how long was it before you took an Edison license? A. I came back to make arrangements with the Biograph people. I took a license out from Edison, this I know, 190S; well, at the same time they all took out licenses. Q. Now, Mr. Lubin, what I want to know is this: How long had you been back in this country when you took