Shira Perlmutter, who’s been at the helm of the U.S. Copyright Office since 2020. Until very recently, when the Trump administration abruptly yanked her out. This one alteration is a sign of a bigger movement. Former President Donald Trump is in the process of ousting officials across government who he views as enemies to his agenda. Paul Perkins, previously an associate deputy attorney general and seasoned Justice Department attorney, has been appointed as the acting register of copyrights and director of the Copyright Office.
Perlmutter assumed the stewardship of the Copyright Office, having been appointed by Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress. Dr. Hayden is the first African American woman Librarian of Congress. Hayden, nominated in 2015 by President Barack Obama and confirmed with a 74-18 Senate vote in 2016, has been a transformative figure in the role. During her leadership, she made strides in modernizing library services and addressing critical issues like copyright protection and digital content management.
Under Perlmutter’s leadership, the Copyright Office recently released a report addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence companies using copyrighted materials without proper authorization. This report highlighted the complexities of copyright law in the evolving digital landscape and emphasized the need for updated regulations.
With Perlmutter’s departure, Paul Perkins directly will take charge of copyright policy. His background as an associate deputy attorney general equips him with the necessary experience to navigate the intricacies of copyright law and its enforcement.
Nieves is a deputy chief of staff, and deputy to chief of staff/ senior counsel Todd Blanche. This role further underscores the reorganization and transformation efforts taking place at HQ.
Ada Limon, who recently stepped down after three years as U.S. poet laureate, lauded Dr. Hayden’s leadership, saying,
“Dr. Carla Hayden is the kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation.”
These changes in the Copyright Office reflect wider trends in government departments, where patronage and ideological conformity increasingly determine staffing choices. Critics have noted that Trump’s administration has engaged in a campaign to remove officials deemed “woke” or contrary to the administration’s ideological stance.
As these transitions play out, stakeholders in copyright and library services will be watching closely. They’re interested to see how these changes in leadership will impact policy direction and operational effectiveness at the Copyright Office.
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