What would incentivize investors into funding new pharmaceutical research projects? I believe that the refuge behind patents (mechanism of defending "market dominance") is actually incentivizing rather than restricting competition. Benefits can certainly be drawn out of the race to be the first to patent, even if talking of incremental innovation. Moreover, competition may be of secondary importance when considering the benefits that could be drawn from innovation. Although, the commission in it's reports shows that the rate of originator drugs entering the market is decreasing, one also ought to take into consideration other factors such as the national legislation on pricing and reimbursement schemes that may have the effect of encouraging secondary patenting.