CINEMA WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1929, Page 6

CINEMA WAR

EUROPE V. AMERICA

(United Preee Association—By Electrn Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, April 28

A sensational challenge to the Western Electric Company’s vigorous offensive in Britain is foreshadowed by the “Sunday Observer”- which makes the announcement that the European “ Talkie ” Combine lias offered to acquire the British Instructional Films, with a view to the large scale production of the “Talkies” in England. 'l’his deal .will link up the most-firmly established British producers with a European group who now arc holding more than five hundred patents lor the film and disc methods of recording, and one capable of competing with America in regard to cost, technical efficiency, and immediate output in commercial quantities. The hostilities will be commenced on Tuesday in the Courts of Chancery, where three German inventors, whose patents are owned by the European combine, consisting of Siemens, A.E.G.. International Tobis, and the British I’hotophone, are seeking to restrain the Hvde Park Cinemas from showing sound films over Western Electric apparatus, on the ground that it is an infringement of tlieir basic patents.

The Western Electric Company, whose resources are enormous, is fighting their case for the defendants. Two hundred cinemas which have made contracts with the Western Electric' Company, are dismayed at the possibility of a protracted legal battle, involving the attendance of inventors and experts from all over the world.