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 #:
000539
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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Petitioner's Exhibit No. 275. 3391 The paper identified by the witness is marked "Defendants' Exhibit for Identification No. 211." By Mr KiNGSLEY : Q. I show you a weekly statement of business done, Alfred Weiss Branch of the General Film Company, week ended September 10th, 1910, signed Alfred Weiss, Manager. Was that statement made by you? A. Yes, sir. Q. Is is correct? A. Yes, sir. Mr. Kingsley : I ask to have it marked for identification. The paper identified by the witness is marked "Defendants' Exhibit for Identification No. 212." Mr. Grosyenor: I offer in evidence a list of the suits brought under the Latham Patent No. 707,934, by the Motion Picture Patents Company, between June 14th, 1909, and July 15th, 1911. The same is received in evidence and marked "Petitioner's Exhibit No. 275a," and is as follows : Petitioner's Exhibit No. 275a. SUITS BROUGHT UNDER THE LATHAM PATENT, NO. 707,934, BY THE MOTION PICTURE PATENTS CO., BETWEEN JUNE 14, 1909, AND JULY, 15, 1911. ACTION. COURT. DATE. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. Viascope Mfg. Co. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. Indep. Moving Pictures Co. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. Anera Theatre Co. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. Automatic Vaudeville Co. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. J. Wesley Rosenquest Amusement Co. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. William N. Swanson trading as Wm. N. Swanson & Co. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. The Madison Amusement Co. Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. Leon O. Mumford Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. David Newman Motion Picture Patents Co. vs. Carl G. Harig and Sylvester G. Staylor, trading as Cupid Amusement Co. U. S. Cir. Ct., No. Dist, Ills. U. S. Cir. Ct., So. Dist., N. Y. do do do U. S. Cir. Ct, No. Dist, Ills. U. S. Cir. Ct, So. Dist, N. Y. U. S. Cir. Ct, Dist. of N. J. U. S. Cir. Ct, Dist. of Maryland do June 14, 1909 Feb. 10, 1910 July 15, 1911 July 15, 1911 July 15, 1911 July 15, 1911 July 15, 1911 July 16, 1911 July 15, 1911 July 15, 1911