Movie theaters can show any movie they want.

June 3, 2012 11:01 AM

I'm trying to find information on a half remembered law about movie theaters and the movies they're allowed to show.

I read an article a while back about a law which was imposed on movie theatres which stopped them from either not showing movies from other movie companies or forced them to allow theatres owned by other movie companies to show their movies. I think the law came into effect in the 1950's or there about. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

posted by zoo to Law & Government (1 answer total)

Best answer: You're almost certainly thinking of U.S. v. Paramount Pictures, a 1948 U.S. Supreme Court case resolving a suit by the federal government against the major movie studios for vertically integrating with movie theaters in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The federal government won, and certain practices by the studios were effectively outlawed.
posted by valkyryn at 11:08 AM on June 3, 2012 [4 favorites]