Motion Picture Patents Company

E9031

The Motion Picture Patents Company was an early 20th-century film industry trust that sought to control movie production, distribution, and exhibition in the United States through pooled patents and licensing.


Statements (53)
Predicate Object
instanceOf American company
business cartel
film industry trust
alsoKnownAs Edison Trust
MPPC
basedOn pooled motion picture patents
businessModel patent licensing
controlledActivity film distribution
film exhibition
film production
controlledCompany General Film Company
controlledTechnology film stock
motion picture cameras
motion picture projectors
country United States
declinePeriod early 1910s
dissolutionProcess antitrust litigation
dissolved 1915
dissolvedBy U.S. federal court decision
founded 1908
December 1908
foundedSubsidiary General Film Company
headquartersLocation New York City
historicalSignificance contributed to rise of independent studios in Hollywood
early attempt to monopolize the American film industry
industry film industry
motion picture industry
keyFigure Thomas Edison
legalForm trust
legalIssue antitrust violations
memberCompany American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
Biograph Company
Eastman Kodak Company
Edison Manufacturing Company
Essanay Studios
George Kleine
Kalem Company
Lubin Manufacturing Company
Selig Polyscope Company
Star Film Company
Vitagraph Company of America
monopolisticPractice exclusive licensing of patented film equipment
refusal to license independent producers
opposedBy U.S. Department of Justice
independent exhibitors
independent film producers
purpose control motion picture distribution in the United States
control motion picture exhibition in the United States
control motion picture production in the United States
regulates use of 35mm film stock by licensees
requires license fees from producers and exhibitors
subsidiaryRoleOfGeneralFilmCompany film distribution monopoly
timePeriod silent film era


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