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 #:
000444
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:
June 27, 2024
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422 Motion Picture Patents Co. and Gaston Melies. 63. SUPPLEMENTAL LICENSE AGREEMENT (1) THIS AGREEMENT, made this 21st day of July, 1909, h\ and between the MOTION PICTURE PATENTS COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and having an office at Orange in said State, party of the first part (herinafter referred to as the "Licensor") ; and GASTON MELIES, of New York City (for himself and as attorney for George Melies of Paris, France), party of the second part (hereinafter referred to as the "Licensee"), WITNESSETH: (2) WHEREAS, an agreement in writing was entered into on the 20th day of July, 1909, by and between the Licensor and the Licensee; and (3) WHEREAS, the Licensor and the Licensee are desirous of modifying and altering the said agreement of July 20th, 1909, in certain particulars: NOW THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH: (1) That the Licensor and the Licensee, in consideration of the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) each to the other in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, mutually covenant and agree to, and do hereby, modify and alter said agreement as follows: (5) By inserting and adding as Paragraph 17a in said agreement, the following: (17a) The Licensor and Licensee further mutually covenant and agree that the Licensor shall and will enter into an agreement in writing with every person, firm or corporation recommended to the Licensor by a majority vote of the Licensee and the several additional licensees hereinafter provided for, or such of them as may at the time be licensees, upon the request of any such person, firm or corporation so recommended, upon such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this agreement, as may be recommended to the Licensor by a majority vote of the Licensee and the several additional licensees hereinafter provided for, or such of them as may at tin1 lime be licensees, and which agreement shall contain no other terms and conditions than those so recommended, and