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Sunday, May 11, 2025
Outside the box.
Trump fires director of U.S. Copyright Office, sources say
Shira Perlmutter removed following concerns raised about artificial intelligence and copyright usage.
The Trump administration has dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, a move confirmed by two sources familiar with the situation.
The decision comes shortly after the Copyright Office released part three of a comprehensive report addressing the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on copyrighted materials.
The report highlights unresolved questions surrounding the amount of data required by AI developers and its marginal benefits on the performance of AI models.
It notes that there is a lack of consensus on whether additional data will continue to enhance AI's practical capabilities in real-world applications.
Perlmutter has been in her role since October 2020, during the first term of President Trump.
She was appointed by the former Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, who was removed by Trump earlier this week.
The U.S. Copyright Office, which employs approximately 450 staff members, operates under the Library of Congress and is responsible for registering copyright claims, maintaining records of copyright ownership, and overseeing the enforcement of copyright law.
President Trump has actively promoted AI technology and announced a significant joint venture shortly after taking office, involving a $500 billion investment by private sector partners, including OpenAI, Softbank, and Oracle, aimed at developing AI infrastructure.
As of now, the White House has not provided any comment regarding Perlmutter's dismissal.
The decision comes shortly after the Copyright Office released part three of a comprehensive report addressing the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on copyrighted materials.
The report highlights unresolved questions surrounding the amount of data required by AI developers and its marginal benefits on the performance of AI models.
It notes that there is a lack of consensus on whether additional data will continue to enhance AI's practical capabilities in real-world applications.
Perlmutter has been in her role since October 2020, during the first term of President Trump.
She was appointed by the former Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, who was removed by Trump earlier this week.
The U.S. Copyright Office, which employs approximately 450 staff members, operates under the Library of Congress and is responsible for registering copyright claims, maintaining records of copyright ownership, and overseeing the enforcement of copyright law.
President Trump has actively promoted AI technology and announced a significant joint venture shortly after taking office, involving a $500 billion investment by private sector partners, including OpenAI, Softbank, and Oracle, aimed at developing AI infrastructure.
As of now, the White House has not provided any comment regarding Perlmutter's dismissal.
