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Nina Čavlina Zrinšćak i Ana Mikulec
Episode · #724

VRIJEME JE ZA GOSPODARSTVO Nina Čavlina Zrinšćak i Ana Mikulec

Guest Nina Čavlina Zrinšćak i Ana MikulecHosted by Darko BukovićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Many entrepreneurs assume that registering their company name automatically protects their brand, or that a simple, two-page contract is enough to safeguard their interests. This episode unpacks why these common assumptions can lead to significant problems down the line, emphasizing the often-overlooked distinctions between legal entities and intellectual property. Nina Čavlina Zrinšćak and Ana Mikulec, lawyers from Jelić, Čavlina Zrinšćak and Sardelić, share their expertise on the intricacies of intellectual property law. They explain why proactive legal strategy is not just about paperwork, but about foreseeing potential disputes and building a resilient foundation for any business. Readers will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to genuinely protect their intellectual assets and navigate the complexities of business relationships, reducing future headaches by investing wisely upfront.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Many entrepreneurs register a company, thinking they've solved most of their problems, but that's just the beginning. A company's legal name and its product or service brands are distinct entities, and only explicit trademark protection safeguards the latter from being used by competitors.
02
The market for brand names is so saturated that there are more registered trademarks than products or services. A thorough, international trademark search must precede any significant investment in brand design, or you risk returning to square one after investing time and money.
03
When assessing trademarks, lawyers evaluate them from the perspective of the average consumer, not the creator who is focused on small differences. Creators often miss that subtle distinctions in their branding will be invisible to a typical customer, making it crucial to evaluate distinctiveness through an impartial lens.
04
Entrepreneurs often ask for a 'one-pager' contract, just two pages, just something brief, but simple agreements function only when business relationships are ideal. The true test of a contract is its ability to protect all parties when disputes inevitably arise, leading to what the lawyers call a 'bad divorce' scenario.
05
The logic of engaging a lawyer is precisely to anticipate the worst-case scenario that could happen in a partnership. A comprehensive partnership agreement isn't for the honeymoon phase of a business; it's a preventative measure, designed to protect all parties when co-founders are no longer 'best friends' and problems emerge.
06
A common provision lawyers recommend is the 'tag-along/drag-along' clause in shareholder agreements. Including such provisions ensures that minority partners are protected in the event of a sale, preventing them from being stranded or forced into a new, unwanted business relationship with an unknown third party.
07
People are becoming more aware that the cost of a lawyer should be budgeted for at the beginning of a venture. Viewing initial legal fees as a necessary upfront investment, rather than an optional expense, significantly reduces the likelihood of much larger, reactive costs and complex 'firefighting' later.
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