American cinema began with Thomas Edison who “imagined a sort of 'coin-operated entertainment machine' in which the moving images created by the kinetograph would illustrate the sound of the phonograph. "(Cook 8) He owned a studio called "Black Maria" in New Jersey. In 1894, Edison named his company the Edison Manufacturing Company. When WKL Dickson founded his company, Biograph, he simultaneously began the patent wars. Before the founding of Biograph, Edison and his company successfully dominated the field of cinema. Even the Lumiere brothers came to the United States with their cinematograph, Edison found it easy to maintain his dominant power. National competitions were held soon after Edison's success The first competitor was the Biograph Company. It was a special case for Dickson because he had worked with Edison to create the Kinetograph, a 35mm camera, and he knew how to challenge Edison. Additionally, he created a different camera called the Mutoscope that could shoot 70mm film. Furthermore, as market demand has exceeded supply, this has also induced competition. However, with the creation of Vitagraph by Stauart Blackson, the competition between these three major studios became more serious. Although Edison filed more than twenty lawsuits to address these challenges, it failed to put an end to these new companies. It was extremely difficult for Edison to file a lawsuit against Biograph, as Dickson was his former employer and remained a major threat to his company. Subsequently, many smaller companies emerged on the market, increasing competition. At that point, Edison strongly felt the need to remain the dominated power, so he introduced the MPPC. Subsequently, the Edison and Biograph companies founded The Motion Picture Pat......middle of paper......story of narrative film. New York: WW Norton, 2004. Print."Before Nickelodeon." UC Press e-book collection, 1982-2004. Network. June 17, 2011. http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft3q2nb2gw."Edison Film Production - Litigation and Licensees." Inventors. Network. June 17, 2011.http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_Edison_Motion_Pictures4.htm."Independence in early and silent American cinema - Independent film - Film, show, name, scene, role, documentary. " Cinematic reference. Network. June 17, 2011. http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Independent-Film-INDEPENDENCE-IN-EARLY-AND-SILENT-AMERICAN-CINEMA.html."History of Cinema : The Motion Film Patent Wars «The cinephile's solution." The cinephile's solution. Network. June 17 2011. .