In the 1970s, restrictive anti-trust agreements require some research-focused businesses that are granted patents to license them, making these rights less attractive to some businesses. The U.S. Government sues AT&T in 1974 and the Hart-Scott-Rudino Anti-Trust Improvements Act is passed in 1976. 

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At the same time Japan was becoming a threat to the U.S. in automotive, electronics and other industries. Stimulating U.S. innovation was to become a national priority and patent reliability would play a key role. The 1970s also saw the founding of Apple and Microsoft and the start of the personal computer revolution.