President Donald Trump has dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and head of the U.S. Copyright Office, in a move that is drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers and legal observers. The firing, first reported by CBS News and Politico, was effectively confirmed through a statement by Representative Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee.

A Sudden Dismissal with AI Implications

“This is a brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis,”

Morelle said in response to the firing. He suggested that the decision came directly in retaliation to Perlmutter’s refusal to endorse Elon Musk’s attempts to use copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence models.

Perlmutter, who assumed the position in 2020 during Trump’s first term, was appointed by Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, who was also reportedly dismissed by Trump earlier this week.

The news comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the use of copyrighted content to train generative AI systems—an issue at the heart of a growing number of legal and policy battles.

The Copyright Office’s Position on AI and Fair Use

The firing coincided with the pre-release of Part III of a comprehensive report from the U.S. Copyright Office examining the intersection of copyright and artificial intelligence. While the report does not explicitly reference Elon Musk or his companies, it offers detailed commentary on the legal boundaries of training AI systems using copyrighted works.

According to the report, although certain uses such as research and analysis may fall under the legal doctrine of fair use, “making commercial use of vast troves of copyrighted works to produce expressive content that competes with them in existing markets” likely falls outside of fair use protections—especially if the content was accessed illegally.

The Office ultimately concludes that government regulation would be “premature” at this stage but supports the continued development of licensing markets. It also recommends considering “alternative approaches such as extended collective licensing” to address potential market failures.

Musk’s Role and Broader Tech Tensions

The situation is further complicated by the involvement of Elon Musk, a longtime Trump ally and a co-founder of both OpenAI and rival startup xAI, which is being integrated into X (formerly Twitter). Musk has voiced support for Jack Dorsey’s provocative call to “delete all IP law,” a sentiment that has stirred controversy in tech and legal circles alike.

While Musk has not publicly commented on Perlmutter’s firing, Trump acknowledged the story by “ReTruthing” a post from conservative attorney Mike Davis, who ironically appeared to disapprove of the move:

“Now tech bros are going to attempt to steal creators’ copyrights for AI profits.”

Meanwhile, OpenAI and other AI companies are currently facing multiple lawsuits alleging copyright infringement. The company has publicly advocated for legislative clarity that would allow AI developers to operate under expanded fair use protections—a move likely to face resistance from artists, authors, and lawmakers concerned about creative rights.

Looking Ahead

As generative AI continues to reshape the media, tech, and legal landscapes, the abrupt removal of the nation’s top copyright official underscores the growing political and economic stakes. With Perlmutter’s departure and the Copyright Office’s critical report now in circulation, the question of how U.S. law should adapt to the AI era is more urgent than ever.

Image Credit: 

Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America