Trump Ousts Copyright Office Director Over AI Copyright Dispute
President Donald Trump has abruptly fired Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, in a move that has sparked political backlash and reignited debate over artificial intelligence and copyright law.
According to reports from CBS News and Politico, Perlmutter was removed shortly after resisting efforts to authorize the large-scale use of copyrighted content for AI training—particularly initiatives reportedly connected to Elon Musk.
A Clash Over Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Representative Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, condemned the firing as an “unprecedented power grab.” He accused the president of acting in retaliation after Perlmutter declined to endorse Musk’s attempts to mine copyrighted material for AI development.
“It is surely no coincidence he acted less than a day after she refused to rubber-stamp Elon Musk’s efforts,” Morelle stated.
Perlmutter had held the role since 2020 and was originally appointed by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who was also recently dismissed by Trump.
A Tense Backdrop: Copyright Report and AI Training
The firing coincides with the release of part three of a U.S. Copyright Office report addressing AI and copyright law. The report emphasizes that while research use may qualify under “fair use,” training commercial AI models on copyrighted works that later generate competing content likely exceeds legal boundaries—especially if done through unauthorized access.
While the Office refrained from recommending immediate regulation, it did encourage licensing markets where AI developers would pay rights holders for their content. The report also floated ideas like extended collective licensing to address potential gaps in content access and monetization.
Musk’s Role and Wider Industry Tensions
Though not named directly in the report, Musk—founder of OpenAI and rival firm xAI—is widely associated with the issue. He has supported controversial opinions on intellectual property, including a recent endorsement of Jack Dorsey’s call to abolish IP law.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump referenced the firing on Truth Social by resharing a post from attorney Mike Davis, who criticized the move as giving tech companies leeway to exploit creators’ work under the guise of AI innovation.
A Broader Copyright Crisis
The incident reflects growing concerns in Washington about how AI companies use copyrighted data. Multiple lawsuits are already in motion against firms like OpenAI, with plaintiffs alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted material during AI training.
As the legal and ethical stakes around AI continue to grow, Trump’s action has intensified scrutiny over who controls copyright policy in the age of artificial intelligence.
