President Donald Trump dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights, just a day after her office warned that AI developers might infringe copyright laws by using protected works to train their models.
This firing, reported by Politico, follows the recent removal of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, further shifting copyright policy closer to presidential influence.
Perlmutter’s office released a report stating that using large volumes of copyrighted material for AI training could exceed fair use boundaries.
The report highlighted the legal risks for AI companies that scrape data without permission, urging Congress to consider new licensing frameworks if voluntary agreements fail.
Perlmutter’s stance diverged from tech advocates, including Elon Musk, who argue for broader fair use protections to foster innovation.
Musk had previously supported calls to eliminate intellectual property laws, emphasizing the need for flexibility in AI development.
Trump’s decision to fire Perlmutter has drawn criticism from Democrats, who view it as an unprecedented power grab that undermines the independence of the copyright office.
Representative Joe Morelle condemned the dismissal as politically motivated, suggesting it was a reaction to Perlmutter’s refusal to support Musk’s interests in AI development.
The dismissal occurs amid ongoing legal disputes between AI companies like OpenAI and Google and copyright holders, with many cases relying on the Copyright Office’s recommendations.
Perlmutter’s report marked a significant moment in copyright discussions, arguing that mass copying for machine learning purposes does not equate to human learning and neglects the rights and compensation owed to original creators.
As the debate over AI and copyright continues, Perlmutter’s termination raises questions about the future direction of U.S. copyright policy under the Trump administration.
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