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 #:
00089
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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Defendants' Exhibit No. 164. 3121 (Docket of Dyer d Dyer.) U. S. CIRCUIT COURT, Southern District of New York. On Edison Reissue 12,037. Thomas A. Edison, Complainant, V8' \ In Equity. No. 8289. American Mutoscope & Biograph Company, Defendant. Complainant's Sol'r, Richard N. Dyer. Defendant's Sol'r, Kerr, Page & Cooper. 1902. Nov. 7 Bill filed and subpoena issued and served, returnable December rule day, 1902. Dec. 1 Appearance of Kerr, Page & Cooper entered for defendant. 1903. Jan. 5 Answer filed. Feb. 2 Replication filed. July 27 Compl't prima facie proofs opened pursuant to notice served July 23, 1903. Complainant's prima facie proofs closed subject to motion to be brought by defendant's counsel to compel witness to answer. Motion to compel witness to answer served by defendant's counsel setting hearing for Sep. 23, 1903. Sept. 23 Motion argued before Lacombe, J., by D. W. Cooper for the motion and J. R. Taylor opposed. Motion granted. " 21 Order entered giving complainant 20 days to produce witness for further cross-examination. Oct. 13 Cross-examination of F. L. Dyer continued and completed and prima facie proofs closed. Papers turned over to J. Edgar Bull as counsel.