Trump Fires US Copyright Office Head Amid AI Copyright Concerns

In May 2025, President Donald Trump dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and head of the US Copyright Office, following the release of a comprehensive report addressing the use of copyrighted materials by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This report underscored significant concerns about how generative AI models utilize copyrighted works in their training data, often exceeding established fair use boundaries.

Perlmutter had served in her role since October 2020, appointed by Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Hayden herself was also recently fired by Trump without public explanation. Both dismissals followed pressure from the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a right-wing oversight group that criticized Perlmutter for her political donations and support of copyright enforcement policies, and Hayden for her stance on library content and cultural events.

The timing of these firings raised questions about political motivations, especially given the Copyright Office’s recent report that challenged the permissibility of AI firms mining copyrighted works without adequate authorization. Democratic Congressman Joe Morelle publicly condemned Perlmutter’s firing as an unprecedented power grab, noting it came soon after she resisted efforts to allow unrestricted use of copyrighted materials for AI training, including those advocated by tech figures like Elon Musk.

This controversy highlights the growing tension between protecting intellectual property rights and the rapid advancement of AI technologies that rely heavily on large datasets for training. Some tech leaders advocate for dismantling intellectual property laws to facilitate AI development, while copyright officials emphasize the need to respect creators’ rights and ensure fair compensation.

Implications for AI Development and Copyright Law

The firing of Perlmutter underscores the challenges faced by regulatory bodies in balancing innovation with legal and ethical standards. The Copyright Office’s report serves as a critical reference point for lawmakers, developers, and creators as they navigate the evolving landscape of AI training data usage. It emphasizes that commercial AI services using copyrighted content without permission may infringe on rights holders, potentially harming artists and creators financially and creatively.

This situation also illustrates the political dimensions influencing technology policy, where advocacy groups and political actors can impact leadership decisions in key government agencies. The debate over AI and copyright is not only a legal matter but also a cultural and economic one, affecting how innovation proceeds and how creators are valued in the digital age.

Looking Ahead

As AI technologies continue to evolve, the intersection of copyright law and AI training data remains a critical area for policy development. Stakeholders including government agencies, technology companies, creators, and advocacy groups must collaborate to establish frameworks that promote innovation while protecting intellectual property rights. The recent events involving the US Copyright Office highlight the urgency and complexity of these challenges.