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 (1912-1913)

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:
1912-1913
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 7
Leaf #:
00080
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:
June 27, 2024
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62 Edison Manufacturing Co. and Eastman Kodak Co. in no case shall it continue beyond August 31, 1914, the date of expiration of said reissued Letters Patent. 8. It is further mutually covenanted and agreed that nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing the "Eastman Company" from selling, and it shall be at liberty to sell, sensitized film for the commercial production of positive or negative motion pictures for export to foreign countries and to persons, firms or corporations in the United States, its territories or possessions, other than the "Edison Company Licensees"; and that neither this agreement nor the fact that the "Eastman Company" has entered into or a cied under it, shall be used in any manner, directly or indirectly, by or for the "Edison Company." its successors, assigns or legal representatives, or by or for others with its or their consent or permission against the "Eastman Company," or its successors or legal representatives, in any litigation, controversy or proceeding involving it or them, or any other persons, firms or corporations, or in any other way. 9. It is mutually covenanted and agreed that this agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and each of their successors, assigns and legal representatives. IX WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be executed by their officers duly authorized to perform these acts, the day and year first above written. EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, (Sgd.) By Thos. A. Edison, President. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, (Sgd.) By George Eastman, Treasurer. Attached to the aforegoing Agreement, dated 2Qth day of May 1908, as part thereof and marked k%Schedule A," was a copy of the Agreement of even date, ante p. 47.