The standard development system in Europe is vibrant. It supports innovation and yields significant benefits for industry and consumers alike. Strong patent protection is needed to continue incentivizing innovators, among which figure many leading European companies, to maintain and increase their R&D and standardization efforts in technologies that will improve the life of citizens. In a world dominated by rapid technological change, it is essential to ensure that innovators engaged in standardized and non-standardized industries are compensated for their investments and efforts. There are no reasons why large manufacturers based in Asia or the United States should be allowed to acquire for free innovative technologies developed at great costs by our industry leaders.