There was a second problem that was still not a technical problem... the project became classified. I couldn't work on it after having gone to all that trouble. I was considered a security risk, so I could not get a clearance.

Edwin H. S. Apart from the dispute Gould had realized his hope to "be around" when the Brewster's angle window patent expired in May 2005.

He also fought with laser manufacturers in court battles to enforce the patents he subsequently did obtain. Gould is best known for his thirty-year fight with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to obtain patents for the laser and related technologies.