In the United States v. Radio Corporation of America et al., 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the government and against RCA (Radio Corporation of America). The case revolved around a patent dispute where RCA was accused by Hazeltine Research Inc. for refusing to pay royalties on certain patents that were not used by them, which they argued violated antitrust laws as it constituted an illegal tying arrangement under Section 1 of Sherman Act. However, RCA contended that this practice was standard within their industry and did not violate any laws. The Supreme Court disagreed with RCA's argument stating that just because a practice is common does not mean it is legal or immune from antitrust scrutiny. It held that forcing licensees to accept and pay for unwanted patents as part of a licensing agreement constitutes an unlawful tying arrangement violating federal law regardless if such practices are considered normal in their business sector.

In the dissenting opinion for United States v. Radio Corporation of America et al., Justice Brennan disagreed with the majority's decision to uphold a lower court ruling that RCA did not violate antitrust laws by acquiring patents from foreign companies and then licensing them to American firms. He argued that this practice constituted an illegal restraint on trade, as it allowed RCA to control who could use these technologies and at what price. Furthermore, he contended that the Court should have considered whether such patent acquisitions were in line with public policy objectives promoting competition and innovation. By failing to do so, he believed they had effectively endorsed monopolistic practices which would stifle technological progress in the long run.