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 6
Leaf #:
00037
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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George K. Spoor, Redirect Examination. 3069 Q. Well, who of the Patents Company? A. Mr. Ken * riedy, I think. Q. He later became the President of the General Film Company? A. Yes, sir. It might have been Mr. Marvin. I am not sure as to that. Kedirect examination by Mr. Caldwell: Q. Have you seen Mr. William X. Selig, lately? A. Yes, sir; last Friday afternoon. Q. Do you know whether or not he entered the hospital in Chicago, for treatment? A. He is at the hospital '2 every day. He is under the treatment of Doctor Freund. Q. Did he tell you whether his eondition would be such that he could come on here to testify in this case? A. He said that he hoped he could, bnt he couldn't very well get away now. Eecross examination by Mr. Grosvenor: Q. Is Mr. Selig confined to the hospital, or does he go about? A. He goes about, goes there every day. Q. He simply visits the hospital once in a while? A. g No, he is there every day. Q. He does not stay there, he goes there for treatment? A. No, he is not confined there, if that is what you mean. Q. How long has he been going to the hospital? A. Oh, for a long time. Q. AYhat do you mean by a "long time?" A. From last five or six weeks, that I know of. Q. And in the meantime, he has attended to his business, and is going to his office daily? A. He is very little at his office. Some days he is not there at all, and some days he is there for only an hour or half an hour in the 4 evening and then goes home in his car, and he is at home. Mr. Grosvbnor: If Mr. Selig is unable to come on to New York to attend these hearings as it is apparent he would be aide to attend a hearing in Chicago, if we should go on there, I am perfectly willing, as counsel for the Government, to have a hearing in Chicago, to examine Mr. Selig, if you feel that he is a necessary witness. I do not wish this to be any opportunity for defendants to urge