I represent clients in copyright, trade mark, confidential information, passing off and Australian Consumer Law disputes, including in the Federal Court, High Court and Copyright Tribunal of Australia. I am highly regarded for my work in complex copyright licensing negotiations and disputes. My practice spans high-profile disputes and strategic advisory work across the education, technology, media, entertainment and consumer goods sectors. My experience includes advising global technology companies, education providers and government on copyright and AI law, including work for Microsoft and national education bodies. I also advise on copyright law reform and advertising compliance, helping clients adapt to evolving legal landscapes. I served as President of the Copyright Society of Australia (2019-2021) and spent 15 years on its Management Committee. I'm known for my practical, client-focused approach and strong stakeholder management, helping clients achieve commercially relevant solutions in complex matters.

Career highlights

• Provide Microsoft Corp with intellectual property counsel and guidance in relation to its presence and product offering in Australia, including in connection with its Artificial Intelligence offerings.
• Advise all Government, Catholic and Independent school bodies nationally in relation to their compliance with Australia's copyright laws, the application of Australia's copyright laws to the training, customisation and use of AI tools and in complex statutory and voluntary copyright licence negotiations.
• Assist Warner Bros. in connection with protecting its intellectual property rights in Australia. 
• Acted in one of the first proceedings in the Federal Court to block infamous pirate websites The Pirate Bay, Torrentz, TorrentHound and IsoHunt. The proceeding involved a new and untested section of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) (s 115A) that allows orders to be made against ISPs to affect the blocking. Zeina has acted in subsequent cases since then. 
• Assisted cosmetics company Self Care in defending against allegations made by Allergan (the manufacturers of Botox) of trade mark infringement, misleading and deceptive conduct in its advertising under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), passing off and contraventions of the Therapeutic Goods Act as well as an appeal from the decision of the Trade Marks Office.
• Assisted Commercial Radio Australia in Federal Court proceedings concerning an issue of statutory interpretation and in High Court proceedings in relation to whether certain provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) are unconstitutional.
• Assisted Foxtel, the Copyright Advisory Group to the COAG Education Council, FreeTV Australia, Britbox, Fitness First Australia, Australian Hotels Association, Commercial Radio Australia, Fox Interactive Media - MySpace and Google/YouTube in the negotiation of voluntary and statutory copyright licences and regularly advise on negotiations with copyright collecting societies such as Copyright Agency, APRA AMCOS, PPCA and Screenrights.
• Actively involved in MinterEllison's pro bono program, having assisted with projects for the Arts Law Centre of Australia, Camp Quality, Biennale of Sydney, Mardi Gras and KidsXpress.

Awards and recognition

• "'Zeina Milicevic is a fantastic partner and her copyright and trade mark expertise is incredible." - Legal 500 2025
• "Zeina Milicevic is another key member of the team who advises on joint ventures and the full range of non-contentious IP matters" - Legal 500 2025
• Named as a Leading Contentious Intellectual Property Lawyer NSW, 2025 by Doyles
• Included in the Best Lawyers of Australia Guide for Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Law , 2025
• Named as one of the world's leading practitioners in the Who's Who Legal: IP 2024 and 2025 reports.

Education
B BUS, LLB (HONS)

• The human voice, Gen-AI and Australian law
  

  Are the qualities of an individual's voice protected under Australian law? Although yet to be tested, well-known individuals may be able to take action.

• Brand protection lessons from the Australian Federal Court
  

  Recent Federal Court decisions highlight the importance of brand protection for businesses. Trade mark registration is important, but only one piece of a strategic brand protection plan.

• Orphan works and remote learning: Breaking down the Copyright Amendment Bill 2025
  

  The Copyright Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced in Parliament on 5 November 2025.  We explore the proposed reforms in this update.

• AI copyright litigation in Australia
  

  Implications arising from Getty Images v Stability AI [2025] EWHC 2863

• Copyright and AI: Consultation on licensing for AI training
  

  We explore the recent announcement that the Attorney-General's Department will be considering the introduction of licensing and compensation models for the use of copyright material in artificial intelligence (AI) training in Australia.

• Knocking out piracy
  Recent cases show media companies are working on ways to better protect their digital content and in the process, are reshaping Australian copyright infringement laws for the digital age.
• The first music case dealing with fair dealing
  

  In one of the most highly anticipated judgments of the year, the Federal Court has found that Clive Palmer infringed copyright in Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Gonna Take It'

• The fight for academic integrity: first site-blocking orders issued under TEQSA Act
  

  The reach of Australia's site-blocking regime continues to grow, with academic cheating services the current target.

• Selling fashion: recent lessons from Ad Standards
  

  Recent decisions by the Ad Standards Community Panel serve as a reminder for fashion and beauty brands of their obligations and the community's expectations for advertising content.

• The 'Modernising Television Regulation in Australia' Green Paper
  

  In response to the 2019 Digital Platform Inquiry, the Australian Government has committed to a process of media reform and, as part of this process, has recently released the Media Reform Green Paper: Modernising Television Regulation in Australia. We provide a high-level summary of the Green Paper.

• An update on the copyright and AI saga: What's new?
  

  We update you on the copyright and GenAI saga, including what is happening in Australia and overseas.

• Covid and Copyright: protecting artists in the wake of the pandemic
  

  The Federal Government is shining the spotlight on the rights of artists in the wake of the pandemic, recently announcing it will undertake a review into the current copyright enforcement regime to ensure it effectively protects the works of creators from unauthorised use.

• New copyright issues paper reflects an increasingly digital world
  

  The Federal Government has released an issues paper in relation to its review of the current copyright enforcement regime. It is inviting submissions from interested parties, particularly those who have previously used the existing copyright enforcement mechanisms.

• Gotta catch 'em all: Pokémon continues to crack down on unlicensed products
  

  The Pokémon Company International Inc successfully obtained an urgent injunction against "Pokemon Pty Ltd" and its sole director, who were planning to launch a game called PokeWorld and commence selling NFTs of characters from the popular game series.

• ChatGPT and the legalities of language generation
  

  ChatGPT uses deep learning techniques to generate human-like text. It has sparked concern among copyright owners whose literary works may have been used without their knowledge or permission, raising questions about copyright infringement as well as subsistence and ownership of copyright in the output produced.

• Trademark action taken by Lindt
  

  Battle of the Bunnies. A recent case highlights that consumer protection will remain at the forefront of the Court's mind when making decisions about certain shape trade marks.

   

• Mattel's TM Strategy: Barbie's everything! He's just Ken.
  

  The global marketing blitz in the up to this year's hottest of hot pink film releases, Barbie, has seen an extraordinary number of brand collaborations. We explore the IP implications.

• Copyright enforcement review: Assessing the effectiveness of Australia's Copyright Infringement Regime
  

  The Australian government is conducting a review of the copyright enforcement regime to effectively safeguard creators' works, requesting input on existing mechanisms and emerging challenges.

• Site-blocking provisions will be expanded in Australia
  Recent amendments to the site-blocking provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) will broaden the scope of Australia's site-blocking regime.
• Fearless Girl keeps standing in Australia
  

  The Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia has handed down a judgment in the protracted dispute between State Street Global Advisors and Maurice Blackburn in relation to the use of a replica of the iconic statue, Fearless Girl.

• Copyright in the digital age | COVID-19 prompts reform to copyright access laws
  

  The government has proposed new copyright law reforms that reflect an increasingly digital landscape. The changes would impact educational institutions, libraries, archives, researchers, academics and governments. We explore their implications.