During the first industrial revolution, did Britain lack the protection of intellectual property rights? If so, what is the impact on the decline of Britain?

Compared with other countries, the intellectual property protection in Britain was the best in the world at that time. Watt's steam engine is protected. The widespread use of steam engines is the symbol of the first industrial revolution. At that time, the steam locomotive technology used by China was bought from Watt with money. So intellectual property protection already exists.