 Essentially , this established a wide area in which patents could be granted , on the condition that monopolies lasted no longer than 14 years . These patents would apply to any new " manner " of " manufacture " , with " manufacture " referring both to the creation of an object , and the design for that object . Section 7 provided that the Act did not prejudice or overrule any previous statutory measures , while Section 8 provided that the restoration to Parliament of the power to administer penal law did not in any way infringe upon the right of the king , Court of King 's Bench , Court of Common Pleas or other criminal courts to order someone 's imprisonment . Section 9 provided that the rejection of letters patent and licenses did not extend to corporations over towns , such as the City of London Corporation . 
