Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-08-16
GOVERNMENT BARES
MOTION PICTURE
MONOPOLY IN
TRUST SUIT
Unreasonable and Oppressive
Conditions Imposed on Film
Makers and Theater Owners
Declares Petition.
HOUSE OWNERS AT MERCY
OF GREEDY COMBINATION
lny EysnIns nersIa a. ?. l..as.a Mlrel


Philadelphia, Aug l6-rhc federal
government attacked tho so-callod
moving picture trust in n clvn suit
filed here today for tho dissolution OF
the Motion Picture Patents company
Hnd Tho General Film company. Ton
leading ulm concerns are accused OF
combining Goo monopolizo the business.
even Go the extent of increasing or
arcIeasiug tho number of motion pie
turo 'hooterf In which they have no
proprietary interest
Tho following corporations and n-
diSidusis who are officers or directors
are named defendants.
Motion Picture Patents company,
General Film company. Biograph
company Thomas A. Edison dncj
EssauaN Film Manufacturing COM
panN the knlcm company Gnrl.
George klclue, Lubin Manufacturing
rumpuuN. MtlCs Manufacturing COM
pHny, Pathc- Frcres. the Splig Poly
scope company, the NitaEruph Cont
pauy of America, Armut Moving Pc
iuro COMPANY Frank L. Dyer. Henry
y. Marvin, j. j. Kennedy william
Pclarr. samuel Long. j. \. Bcrst.
SiCgmund lubin. CASTOR Melics. Al
bert f.. smith, George k spoor and
W. y Soug
The government charges that un-
fcHSunnhlr ana oppressive restraints
and conditions have been arbitrarily
imposed On the manufacture and lcas-
ing Ot tilus ana machines. dcpFlNlug
the public of the advantages of conn
petition. especially the competition Of
fortien films, the importation ot
which is alleged to have been re-
strictcd.
The governments petition SAYS he
tween $500. 600 uud 5000. 900 foot uf
pictures are printed each week ht
manufacturer ana distributed to
thousands uf exhibitors an over the
United states.
The gnvo1nmcn. declares that "a
FuW ErcutN .n excess pf yluU.uuu, 600
mas been Invested ln tho different
hruuohus uf the business Tho du-
PENDANTS control 10 ig added, from 90
q" $50 per cent of tho nim business.
iuruHhing Approximately 400 eVhih-
Itors.
Tho Motion pictures Patents com
UuuN. organized boo NtW Jersey in Sop.
t,mh,r 1905. Is th, holding company
of all the motion picture patents of
the defendants
other thHu collecting and diatrlbut
IuE royalties among the defendants.
ih" hlil suNt tho Patents company
only business Is th, bTiuUiug or Jaw
suits under the patents 10 holds. Hun
dr"ds ut suits have hyru brought 10
iS ALLEGED no hurruss ana opprsss AN
persons engaged 100 the nation pirluT,
business Who have not ohrFrd its
mandates
Tho Gpu.ral Film company. organ
iZpd iu Main, iu AITl. 1910. and aI-
legged 600 hr tho uucu.t through which
the defendants films are distributed
90 exhibitors throughout tie country.
kyNH formed tEt RtfITItH HEtrH fU
muuuuulizc the business of tho rental
exchanges. which previously dlgtfinr
utDd th" films This comunuN. 10 ls
declared. has acquired tho business
or cancelled the licenses held from
the Motion Picture Patents company
United Sutos. with one exception, at
60 cost uf s2.3fJ.usg boo cash and f1Hi.
500 in preferred stock.
The tllcsed unlawful combination
OF the defendants became effective
JAuuuu T. 1908. according tu tho pr.
titiou. a. that time the power OF
the monopoly of the defendants was
abEolutr. 30 Ia stated.
An cShibtur has to nay s. a week.
~ tie PATENTS company. 30 is said. uu
eterv exhibiting machine owned hE
him tN,I Including machines sold
Years before tn the exhibitors. with
ont any conditions being attached tu
thp sale.
"l r,ndlur through the Patents
DrmuHut' the petition adds. "Wvrc
enabled fu and dId determine whether
rev motion picture lhrut,rs should ur
should mot nv opened and whether old
ones should bee clusrd although dee
PENDANTS had mo- proprivtHrN interest
Zoo such thrHtprs.
"Thls power thoy have exercised
and continued Co exercise arnitrarilt
and unrrasonuolr through the Patents