 The subject was also discussed in Bircot 's Case , where it was decided that an inventive improvement to an existing industry or invention was not a new " material " , and could not be patented ; such an improvement was described as " to put but a new button to an old coat " . Hasting 's Case confirmed that a patent would not be issued , even for a new " material " , that was extremely close to an old one , something originally laid down in Matthey 's Case . The statute did not stop the monarch issuing such patents in return for money ; after James I 's death , Charles I continued issuing them and avoided having to obey the law by having any cases heard in the conciliar courts , such as the Star Chamber . In response to this abuse and others , the Star Chamber was abolished by the Habeas Corpus Act 1640 . After the English Restoration , these activities largely ceased because of the dominant power of Parliament and the Bill of Rights 1689 , which completely abolished the king 's ability to disobey or alter statute . 
