 Over time , this became more and more problematic ; instead of temporary monopolies on specific , imported industries , long @-@ term monopolies came about over more common commodities , including salt and starch . These " odious monopolies " led to a showdown between the Crown and Parliament , in which it was agreed in 1601 to turn the power to administer patents over to the common law courts ; at the same time , Elizabeth revoked a number of the more restrictive and damaging monopolies . Even given a string of judicial decisions criticising and overruling such monopolies , James I , Elizabeth I 's successor , continued using patents to create monopolies . Despite the Committee of Grievances , a body chaired by Sir Edward Coke that abolished a large number of monopolies , a wave of protest occurred at the expansion of the system . On 27 March 1621 , James suggested the House of Commons draw up a list of the three most objectionable patents , and he would " give Life to it , without alteration " , but by this time a statute was already being prepared by Coke . After passing on 12 May 1621 it was thrown out by the House of Lords , but a statute of Monopolies was finally passed by Parliament on 25 May 1624 . 
