President Donald Trump has removed Shira Perlmutter from her role as Director of the U.S. Copyright Office.
The decision came shortly after the release of a government report questioning the legal use of copyrighted works to train AI models.
Several news outlets, including CBS News and Politico, confirmed the dismissal. Lawmakers and legal experts quickly responded with criticism.
A Sudden and Controversial Decision
Representative Joe Morelle, a leading Democrat on the House Administration Committee, called the removal “a brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis.”
He believes the firing was not random. Instead, he pointed to a possible link between Perlmutter’s removal and her refusal to support Elon Musk’s use of copyrighted material for AI training.
Trump also fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, who had appointed Perlmutter in 2020.
The dual dismissals signal a dramatic shift in how copyright policy may be handled moving forward.
What the AI Report Actually Said
The Copyright Office recently released a detailed report on AI and copyright that emphasized that AI companies cannot freely scrape the internet for creative works and use them for profit.
The document outlined several key points:
- Fair use has limits. Not all AI use cases qualify.
- Research and education may fall under fair use.
- Commercial AI tools that produce content similar to protected work likely do not.
- Unauthorized access to copyrighted works violates fair use.
- Licensing models should be expanded.
- Collective licensing may help when traditional licensing fails.
Elon Musk’s Role
Elon Musk has ties to the issue. He co-founded OpenAI and now leads xAI, a newer AI company merging with X, formerly known as Twitter. Recently, he endorsed a call to “delete all IP law,” suggesting that copyright rules are outdated.
Critics believe Perlmutter’s firing benefits Musk’s interests. The timing of the dismissal and Trump’s reaction on his Truth Social platform suggest coordination.
Trump re-shared a post about the firing, adding no clarification or denial.
The Stakes for Creators
This issue affects more than just government policy. It impacts writers, musicians, filmmakers, and other creators.
Imagine writing a book, composing a song, or drawing an original piece, only for an AI model to copy your style and compete with your work. That’s the concern many creators now face.
Several have filed lawsuits. They claim companies like OpenAI used their content without consent. They want to protect their livelihoods. And they want fair compensation when AI uses their work.
