Computer & Communications Industry Association collection of IBM antitrust trial records
Creation: 1969-1982Abstract
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) was involved in duplicating and making available court documents of interest to their members. CCIA assembled documents, assigned their own numbering scheme, and in some cases created microfiche copies of the records. The IBM antitrust trial records consists of CCIA photocopies and microfiche copies of trial transcripts, trial exhibits, depositions, legal memoranda, motions, subpoenas, and other documents relating to antitrust suits brought against IBM throughout the 1970s.
Dates
- Creation: 1969-1982
Creator
- Computer & Communications Industry Association (U.S.) (Collector, Organization)
Extent
90 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note
90 linear feet, 945 microfiche
Historical Note
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) was involved in duplicating and making available court documents of interest to their members. The CCIA assembled the documents, assigned their own numbering scheme, and in some cases created microfiche copies of the records. Most of these relate to antitrust suits brought against IBM throughout the 1970s.
The U.S. Department of Justice began preliminary inquiries in 1964 into possible antitrust violations on the part of IBM. This was to become the longest and most complex of the antitrust suits brought IBM. The company had previously weathered antitrust actions filed by the Justice Department -- in 1932 for the practice of typing arrangements, a violation of the Clayton Act, and in 1952 on the charge that IBM was guilty of infractions of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, monopolizing interstate trade and commerce in the tabulating machine industry. IBM then moved into the electronic data processing market with the same aggressiveness it had demonstrated in the punched-card tabulating machine business. As an industry giant with a reputation for monopolizing any market it chose to enter, IBM's activities in the computer industry were generally mistrusted by both the government and its competition.
The principal case documented by this collection was filed in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York on January 17, 1969. The Justice Department alleged that IBM was again in violation of the Sherman Act in the general purpose digital computer systems market. The case went to trial on May 19, 1975, with Judge David N. Edelstein presiding. On January 1982, Assistant Attorney General William F. Baxter concluded that the case against IBM was without merit and signed a stipulation of dismissal.
Arrangement
Within each trial series the records are arranged into transcripts, court documents, exhibits, and miscellaneous CCIA materials. Trial transcripts are in chronological order. Other series follow a filing system imposed by CCIA or are arranged with court documents in numeric order.
Scope and Content
Photocopies and microfiche of trial transcripts, trial exhibits, depositions, legal memoranda, motions, subpoenas, and other documents relating to U.S. v. IBM, Control Data v. IBM, Greyhound Computer Leasing v. IBM, Telex v. IBM, CalComp v. IBM and IBM v. Catamore Enterprises. The transcript of the trial proceedings and the collection of court exhibits provide a record that brings together a wealth of detailed documentary evidence on the electronic data processing industry in the 1960s and 1970s.
Technical research priorities, product development decisions, marketing and sales practices, and maintenance and service arrangements for many firms in the computer industry are to be found in the trial record. Much of the voluminous evidence presented by both parties was drawn from IBM's internal correspondence and files. Many other systems and components manufacturers also presented testimony. The court documents additionally incorporate extensive hearing transcripts, testimony and memoranda concerning important legal and economic issues, e.g., measurement of market share, pertinent to the case and to antitrust law in general. Some items are missing from the collection. Many documents and exhibits, however, were presented as evidence in more than one of the cases and documents not found in one trial's record may be located in another trial in the collection.
The impact of these antitrust cases extends beyond the computer or data processing industries. These cases have generated much debate about questions raised by monopoly charges -- the definition of market share, the distinction between competitive and predatory behavior, and the problems associated with prosecuting the charge of "intent" to monopolize trade. As these issues are likely to be the focus of important discussions among jurists, economists, and many in business, the documentary evidence contained in this collection will be valuable resource for those interested in this crucial aspect of American business.
Location of Originals
Original photoprint and microfiche are located in Washington, DC at the Computer & Communications Industry Association headquarters.
Location of Duplicates
Duplicate trial records located at Charles Babbage Institute, 103 Walter Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
Access Restrictions
Limited sections of the trial transcript and some exhibits were closed by the court and are not available for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Language of Materials
English
Additional Description
Provenance
Gift of the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
Bibliography
Subjects
Related Names
Subject
- International Business Machines Corporation (Organization)
- Baxter, William F., 1929-1998 (Person)
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Computer & Communications Industry Association collection of IBM antitrust trial records
- Author:
- Gail P. Dunleavy
- Date:
- 1988
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository