In a surprising turn of events, the Trump administration has dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the nation’s leading copyright official, only days after the abrupt termination of Carla Hayden, the head of the Library of Congress, which oversees the U.S. Copyright Office. This move appears to be part of a broader pattern of removing government officials who are perceived to oppose the president and his administration’s agenda.
On Sunday, May 11, the U.S. Copyright Office issued a statement revealing that Perlmutter received an email from the White House a day prior, informing her that “your position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately.” This abrupt dismissal has raised questions about the stability of leadership within government agencies focused on intellectual property.
The day before this announcement, on May 8, President Donald Trump dismissed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, making her the first woman and the first African American to hold that position. This decision aligns with the administration’s ongoing efforts to remove officials who are seen as obstacles to Trump’s policy objectives, emphasizing a significant shift in the management of key cultural institutions.
Carla Hayden, during her tenure, appointed Shira Perlmutter to lead the Copyright Office in October 2020, entrusting her with the vital role of shaping copyright policy in the United States amid evolving challenges posed by technology and digital media.
Recently, Perlmutter’s office published an important report that investigates whether artificial intelligence companies can legally use copyrighted materials to “train” their AI systems. This report is part of a comprehensive study on AI that began in 2023, collecting insights from a diverse range of stakeholders, including AI developers, actors, and country musicians to understand the implications of AI on creative works.
In January, the U.S. Copyright Office clarified its stance on the role of human creativity in the creation of works eligible for copyright protection. With approximately half a million copyright applications filed each year, covering millions of creative works, the office emphasizes the necessity for human involvement in the creative process to ensure that rights are appropriately granted.
Perlmutter articulated this perspective in January, stating, “Where that creativity is expressed through the use of AI systems, it continues to enjoy protection.” However, she also warned that “extending protection to material whose expressive elements are determined by a machine … would undermine rather than further the constitutional goals of copyright.” This reflects a nuanced understanding of how technology intersects with intellectual property law.
The White House has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the reasoning behind Perlmutter’s dismissal, leaving many to speculate about the motivations driving these significant personnel changes within key government institutions.
Following the news of Perlmutter’s termination, several Democrats swiftly condemned the action. Lawmakers criticized the dismissal as a blatant abuse of power, aimed at consolidating control over government agencies responsible for protecting intellectual property and cultural heritage.
Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the leading Democrat on the House Administration Committee, described Trump’s decision to terminate Shira Perlmutter as a “brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis.” This statement underscores the political tensions surrounding intellectual property governance and the implications of leadership changes in such critical roles.
With a strong background in law, Perlmutter previously held the position of policy director at the Patent and Trademark Office and has extensive experience in copyright and other areas of intellectual property. She also had a previous stint at the Copyright Office in the late 1990s, making her a well-respected figure in the field. As of now, she has not responded to messages seeking her comment on this matter.
