V.O. Patents & Trademarks supports startups with patents and IP strategy

Season 07 of Startup Pass-port by Frontwalker continues with Episode 30 - Tamara Elmore, Patent Attorney at V.O. Patents & Trademarks. Tamara Elmore discusses the role of patents and intellectual property for entrepreneurs, and why the important question is not always when to file, but when to speak to a patent attorney. She explains that entrepreneurs can start with a conversation without immediately taking on high costs, and that sometimes the right advice is to wait until they have more data and are further along. She also shares how her work varies across technologies, from antibodies, gene technology and diagnostics to vaccines. Tamara also explains why patents can have very different importance depending on the industry. While products such as telephones, electronics and coffee machines can have hundreds of incremental patents, a medicine may have only one or two patents covering the product, making those patents particularly important. She discusses why patents were part of the conversation around COVID-19 vaccines, while noting that manufacturing capabilities and GMP standards could also be significant barriers. She also shares why startups should consider their IP position when approaching investors, who may ask about it early in the process. In the quick-fire section, Tamara chooses patent over trademark and wait over filing early, before reflecting on one of her biggest learnings: things do not always go as planned, and it is important to learn from mistakes. She also notes that founders may overlook how a large upfront investment in IP can actually save money in the long run. This new season brings conversations with founders, innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of entrepreneurship, in partnership with Erasmus Enterprise and the NL Startup Competition. These conversations are powerful, inspiring, and game-changing, and we can't wait for you to hear them. Stay tuned! New episodes dropping soon!