Age of Invention: The Statute of Monopolies, Part II

Publish Date: 04-11-2021

Publish Frequency:

Source: Age of Invention

Author(s): Anton Howes

Type: Article

Synopsis: In the first part, I gave some background to understanding the Statute of Monopolies of 1624, widely and mistakenly lauded as the start of the patent system. (If you missed it, you can read it here). As I noted, patents for invention were in fact far older, and were not even the creations of parliaments. They were creatures of the Crown. Yet patent monopolies had become increasingly unpopular, especially when Elizabeth I granted them to well-connected courtiers to regulate pre-existing industries and professions, and not just for inventions. The grounds for some patents being in the public interest were flimsy. To add insult to injury, the queen ignored petitions to rescind patents, and even prevented cases about them being heard in the common-law courts. She left the aggrieved with little option but to appeal to Parliament.

Public Link: https://antonhowes.substack.com/p/age-of-invention-the-statute-of-monopolies-5ed

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