State v. Sterling Theatres Co.

This lawsuit challenges the efforts of the state of Washington to enforce recently enacted state antitrust legislation (The Consumer Protection Act of 1961, RCW 19.86) against a segment of an industry which unquestionably carries on part of its activities in interstate commerce. The appellant state is seeking injunctive and other relief against four groups of motion picture exhibitors owning or operating motion picture theatres in the greater Seattle area 1 and certain film distributors who own or control copyrights to the films which they license to the exhibitors for display. 2 The…