
The dismissal of Perlmutter by Trump, for which the White House has yet to provide an explanation, eliminated a crucial defense for content companies. Although the Copyright Office lacks legislative authority, its insights can significantly influence Congress and the judicial system (“judges often find [the Copyright Office’s] expertise convincing,” as Blake Reid, a professor at the University of Colorado law school, pointed out in his Bluesky commentary on the matter).
Trump firing Perlmutter has left content companies without a key protector. Although the Copyright Office can’t make laws, its opinions can be very important for what Congress and courts decide (“judges often find their opinions convincing,” as Blake Reid explained on Bluesky).