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 #:
000193
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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Jeremiah J. Kennedy, Cross Examination. 3221 Film Company was going to acquire other exchanges besides those acquired at the time the General Film Company started in business? A. We did not know anything of the kind. Q. What was the purpose, then, of tins conversation with Kleine, respecting this acquisition of other exchanges? A. It was a condition which should apply in the event of any additional similar property being purchased at a later time. Q. Didn't you expect, at the time you had this conversation with Kleine, to acquire other exchanges? A. I don't know what I expected. There was no such purpose. I do not know that I had any expectations. Q. You want the record to stand that you did or did not intend, at the time the General Film Company acquired the Kleine exchanges, to acquire other exchanges? A. I was about to add that that was not my intention, and I do not know of its being the intention of any other Director of the General Film Company. Q. In other words, you had an open mind on the subject? A. Entirely open mind, and the idea was that if this method did not afford relief for the business and the evils in the business, that some other method would have to be found, some other form of relief for the exhibitor and the producer, particularly, and the honest exchange. Q. Well, when did you make up this estimate of the value of all the other exchanges governed by the rate at which you had paid Kleine? A. Xot before each of the Directors' meetings you have referred to. I think you have referred to figures submitted at two Directors' meet ings. Q. I have only referred to one meeting, the meeting of October 11th, 1910. A. I think there was another one also — Q. There were several others? A. At which figures were submitted. Q. How soon after this talk with Kleine did you make up your mind to buy other exchanges? A. Xot until the next exchange asked us to purchase its property. I do not know when that was. We did not make up our mind then, and would not have purchased it if the price had not been attractive. Q. Exhibit 02, printed in Volume I, page 100, and fob