> the VHS/Betamax time-shifting wars were 70s Are you talking about legal challenges? For popularity VHS was the 80's I think: "JVC released the first VHS ma

> the VHS/Betamax time-shifting wars were 70s Are you talking about legal challenges? For popularity VHS was the 80's I think: "JVC released the first VHS machines in Japan in late 1976, and in the United States in mid-1977." and took a few years to take off widely. Interestingly enough, VHS was developed in secret at JVC: "However, despite the lack of funding, Takano and Shiraishi continued to work on the project in secret. By 1973, the two engineers had produced a functional prototype.". The development of blue LEDs has a better story. Does Japanese culture encourage secrative development?