Trump Administration Fires U.S. Copyright Office Head After AI Copyright Report
Image Credit: BP Miller | Splash
On May 10, 2025, the Trump administration terminated Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, one day after the office released a report on artificial intelligence and copyright law. The dismissal followed the firing of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on May 8, 2025. While the White House provided no official reason for Perlmutter’s termination, the timing has prompted speculation about a connection to the AI report.
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Firings at the Library of Congress
Shira Perlmutter, appointed in October 2020 by Carla Hayden, led the U.S. Copyright Office, a division of the Library of Congress that processes approximately 500,000 copyright applications annually and advises Congress on intellectual property. Perlmutter, a lawyer with prior roles at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Copyright Office in the 1990s, was informed of her termination via a White House email on May 10, 2025, stating her position was “terminated effective immediately”, according to a Copyright Office spokesperson.
Carla Hayden, the first woman and African American Librarian of Congress, was dismissed two days earlier on May 8, 2025. The White House cited her support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and the inclusion of children’s books deemed “inappropriate” by conservative groups as reasons for her firing. The American Accountability Foundation, a conservative organization, had labelled Hayden “woke” and “anti-Trump”, advocating her removal. These dismissals align with the Trump administration’s efforts, since its second term began in January 2025, to remove officials perceived as opposing its agenda.
AI and Copyright Report
On May 9, 2025, the U.S. Copyright Office released the third part of its “Copyright and Artificial Intelligence” study, launched in 2023. The 113-page report examined the use of copyrighted materials to train generative AI systems, concluding that such use could infringe copyright holders’ rights, particularly when used commercially to produce competing content. It noted that “making commercial use of vast troves of copyrighted works … goes beyond established fair use boundaries” but deemed government intervention “premature”, advocating for licensing markets where AI firms pay for content.
The report, informed by thousands of stakeholders including AI developers and creators, emphasized the role of human creativity in copyright law, stating that AI-assisted works could be protected if human authorship is evident. Its release coincides with lawsuits against AI companies like OpenAI for allegedly using copyrighted materials without permission, highlighting the report’s relevance to ongoing legal debates.
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Role of the Department of Government Efficiency
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory body led by Elon Musk, is tasked with reducing federal spending, including through AI-driven initiatives like consolidating federal data to identify budget cuts. Musk, who owns xAI, an AI development company, has expressed support for eliminating intellectual property laws. On April 11, 2025, he endorsed a post by Jack Dorsey on X advocating the deletion of all IP laws, stating, “I agree”.
Some, including Representative Joe Morelle, a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York, have speculated that Perlmutter’s firing was linked to the AI report’s findings, which could conflict with Musk’s views or AI industry interests. Morelle called the dismissal a “brazen, unprecedented power grab”. However, copyright expert Meredith Rose described the report as balanced, noting it was “113 pages of ‘well, it depends!’” and questioning a direct connection to the firing.
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Public and Industry Reactions
The firings have sparked varied responses. The American Federation of Musicians labelled Perlmutter’s dismissal “unlawful” and detrimental to creators, praising her expertise. Music attorney Lisa Alter expressed concern that the firing signals a departure from the Copyright Office’s nonpartisan tradition, potentially weakening protections for artists against AI firms. Conversely, the American Accountability Foundation supported the dismissals, arguing they advance an “America First” intellectual property agenda.
On May 12, 2025, the Trump administration appointed Justice Department officials Todd Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress and Paul Perkins as acting Register of Copyrights. These appointments have raised concerns about the potential politicization of the Copyright Office, which has historically operated independently. The AI report, while not legally binding, serves as expert guidance for courts and policymakers, making Perlmutter’s exit significant for AI and copyright policy.
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Source: The Guardian, Washington Post, CBS News, TechCrunch
