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 #:
000345
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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Motion Picture Patents <1<». and Gaumont Co. of X. Y. 323 motion pictures, of a width not to exceed approximately one (1) inch in the "territory aforesaid/' to persons, firms and corporations engaged in the business of manufacturing, leasing, selling, or loaning, renting out or otherwise disposing of or dealing in motion pictures in the "territory aforesaid," but upon the condition that in case any of them produces thereon any picture greater in size than approximately three-quarters i :: i i of an inch on a line either parallel to or at right angles to the edge of such film, and such manufacturer has knowledge thereof, such manufacturer will cease supplying such film to any person, firm or corporation so doing; and with the further exception that such manufacturer may also reserve the right to manufacture and sell in the "territory aforesaid" such sensitized film suitable for the commercial production of negative and positive motion pictures of any width, to persons, firms and corporations now having an established business of manufacturing motion pictures in any country foreign to the United States, who now manufacture negative and positive motion pictures in the United States, or who may after the date of this agreement commence the manufacture of negative or positive motion pictures in the United States. The Licensor further covenants and agrees that the royalties which it will charge to and receive from the Licensee for "Licensed Film" land which are to be included by the manufacturer or manufacturers in the prices charged for "Licensed Film" to the Licensee and' paid over to the Licensor) shall not, for "Licensed Film" of a width approximately one inch and three-eighths of an inch (1% inch) or thirty five (35) millimeters, purchased by the Licensee during the year preceding June 20, 1900. and during any year thereafter during the continuance of this agreement, as hereinafter provided, exceed the following rates, that is to say: Tf the shipments of such "Licensed Film" to the Licensee, on its orders, for any such year, be four million running feet or less, a royalty of one-half ( l •>) cent per running foot on the total number of feet for that year; if such shipments, on its orders, of such "Licensed Film," for any such year, exceed four million running feet but do not exceed six million running feet, a royalty of four and one half i |i ._, ) mills per running foot on the total number of running feet for that year; if such shipments, on its orders, of such "Licensed Film," for any such year, exceed six million running feet but do not exceed eight million running feet, a royalty of four i li mills per running