Trump Administration Dismisses US Copyright Office Director Amidst AI Copyright Concerns

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WASHINGTON D.C. – May 12, 2025 – In a move that has sparked controversy, the Trump administration has terminated Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and Director of the US Copyright Office. This dismissal follows the recent release of a pivotal report by the Copyright Office, which raised significant concerns regarding the use of copyrighted materials in the training of generative artificial intelligence. The news, initially reported by Politico, comes amidst a series of changes within key governmental positions, including the earlier dismissal of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, reportedly due to her diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Perlmutter’s removal coincides with the Copyright Office’s ongoing analysis of copyright law in relation to AI, marking the third in a series of influential papers on the subject. The Trump administration, notably through its AI advocate DOGE, has been vocal in its push for expanded AI applications, with the White House recently urging federal agencies to appoint Chief AI Officers and develop comprehensive AI strategies.

Congressman Joe Morelle, the leading Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, has condemned the firing, labeling it “a brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis.”¹ Morelle suggested a direct link between Perlmutter’s dismissal and her resistance to “Elon Musk’s efforts to mine troves of copyrighted works to train AI models.” This development underscores the escalating tension between the administration’s AI ambitions and the protection of intellectual property rights.²

1. Morelle’s Statement on Abrupt Firing of Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights