Motography (1912)

80 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. VIII, No. 3. drama in centers which to the present time have been unable to collect audiences for high-class theatrical productions. While actors and actresses of no mean ability and reputation have been deserting the "legitimate" stage for several years, to become affiliated with film concerns, we have yet to see the real stars of the theatrical profession in the films. That Daniel Frohman should become one of the first in this movement is significant to those who have ben interested in dramatic enterprise, and his presentation of "Monte Christo," with James O'Neil as the leading character, will be awaited with interest. It is probable that all of the great plays will be condensed and put into form for the moving pictures, and should this be accomplished by the Famous Players' Film Company, it will prove an artistic and educational blessing to the average citizen who cannot afford to see the original production. Step by step, the moving picture show is overcoming the ignorant prejudice of the omnipresent amateur social reformer, by a steady and consistent regard for the welfare and educational advancement of its patrons. It is certain that this form of entertainment has at last reached a pinnacle from which it cannot be dislodged by the most exacting of critics. ANOTHER VIEW. ACCORDING to an article written by Captain J. J. Ryan for the National Police Magazine, the motion picture theater contributes to the delinquency of the young because the children attend the shows without escort, and therefore are free to form objectionable acquaintances. Unlike many other critics of the motion picture show, the captain does not attack the character of the pictures, nor of the management, for that would reflect on the censorship bureau, which is conducted by the police department, but he takes his fling at the show in the only way open to him. As a novelty this is a matter worthy of note. This objection can be applied with far greater force to unescorted children in the public parks, or playgrounds, where the chance of associating with questionable characters is immeasurably greater, and where the children are not under the continual supervision of the management. In this respect our public resorts are notorious, not because of the indifference of the police, but because of character of the surroundings, and the far greater area patrolled by the officer. Evil exists in all public resorts, but is at a minimum in the show that is frequented by a neighborhood clientele. To quote Chief Wallace of the Bureau of Licenses, New York City : "As a general proposition, the show is just as good as the neighborhood it is in." To know this is true, one only has to consider the fact that at least 90 per cent of the show patrons are residents of the district in which the show is located, as there is no need in these days to travel far for this form of amusement. AN INTERESTING PATENT DECISION. A DECISION handed down by the Massachusetts Supreme Court draws a sharp distinction between the monopoly granted by a patent and the monopoly created by the purchase or control of a chain of important patents covering a particular industry or art. The case related to a contract for employment, with assignment of inventions and patents, which the employee should make "during the continuance of the contract and for ten years thereafter." It is alleged that the plaintiff, the United Shoe Machinery Company, is an unlawful monopoly, controlling ninety-five per cent of the inventions pertaining to shoe machinery. A patent, according to the decision, bestows upon the inventor the right to exclude all others from the enjoyment of his discovery for a specified term, but "the monopoly protected by the patent goes no further than the invention and contractual obligations attached to it." A patentee may annex any condition to the sale of his invention (Dick case decision, 224 U. S. 1) and may place the users of it under numerous obligations, but the monopoly so created is conferred solely by the patent. But as to the monopoly produced by a combination of patents, the decision says : "No word or phrase in the Sherman anti-trust act reveals an intent to exempt the owners of patents from its sweeping provisions against monopolistic combination. We are unable to perceive any underlying reason for supposing that by implication growing out of economic or business conditions such an exemption was intended. There appears to be no inherent natural distinction between owners of patents and owners of oil which would justify the application of the statute to one and not to the other. The conclusion seems to follow that the comprehensive condemnation of the act against every person who monopolizes interstate commerce by combination with others includes holders of patents as well as others." In this case, or in any other parallel case, the question whether a combination in restraint of trade exists, is for the federal courts to decide. But the principle laid down by the Massachusetts court is remarkably clear, and of undoubted interest to every . holder of patent rights. There is no obscurity here : "Conditions annexed by the patentee to the enjoyment of an invention are legal, even though resulting in an extended monopoly. Combinations among patentees resulting in an extended monopoly are illegal." WRONG AUTHOR'S NAME IN JULY 20 ISSUE. We regret that an unavoidable error in the preceding issue of Motography gave the credit of authorship of the Selig second prize story, "The Opportunity of the Picture," to F. De Lysle Cass. This interesting article was written by H. I. Green, of the Chicago Press Club, to whom we extend our apologies for the mistake. SCHOOL PICTURES. Believing that the school children of the city would be greatly benefited by the use of a moving picture machine, it is probable that Supt. O. S. Thompson of the Waukegan (111.) city schools will ask the school board to purchase a machine. It is possible that Mr. Thompson will ask the board to purchase one of these machines before school opens and that it will be used in connection with the playground which opened in that city. Many cities have recently adopted the new system and they are using the films to good advantage in the teaching of botany, English lectures and the like. It is thought that it would be a good thing if a machine could be secured during the summer months for the use of the school children, who are enjoying the playground and after they are through with their play and are all together, no better chance to introduce the educational features could be secured. The machine would be used for that purpose during the summer months and then when school opened again in the fall it would be possible to tell exactly how much good could be accomplished by this means.