Crew Union Calls for the Reinstatement of U.S. Copyright Office Head

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A significant film industry union in Hollywood has expressed serious worry about the unexpected dismissal of U.S. Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter on Saturday after an AI-related report was published ahead of time. They believe that Perlmutter ought to be restored to her position.

The union IATSE, which represents a variety of workers behind the scenes in film and television, including costume designers, animators, and cinematographers, has stated that the termination seems neither legal nor valid. This is because Perlmutter was hired by the legislative branch instead of the executive one.

The union emphasized that Shira Perlmutter, who has served admirably as Register of Copyrights, should be reappointed by Congress,” they stated.

Without providing an explanation, the White House has recently dismissed Amanda Perlmutter. This action occurred a day after her office published a report indicating that using copyrighted materials to train AI models might not fall under the category of “fair use,” which is a claim made by AI companies.

The report pointed out that exploiting large amounts of copyrighted materials for profit, by creating new content that rivals these works in existing markets, often through unlawful means, exceeds the limits set by fair use.

The crew’s union expressed specific apprehensions regarding the timing of this event. They stated, “This incident is still unfolding, and it’s uncertain whether Perlmutter’s dismissal was in response to publishing the AI report. Yet, it wouldn’t shock us to discover that tech tycoons are using their power to manipulate our government for their financial gain.

While the training of AI tools for their work has become a significant issue for Hollywood creatives lately, IATSE is now the second labor group in Hollywood to express concerns about this topic, and they are the first major union to do so. The American Federation of Musicians, which includes some members who work on film and television projects, has voiced that Perlmutter’s resignation could have severe consequences for the entire copyright community.

As a gamer, I’m totally on board with what IATSE is saying about that recent report from the U.S. Copyright Office on AI. That document really resonates with my thoughts! It seems they’re making it clear that tech moguls and AI creators shouldn’t be able to dodge established U.S. copyright law, and that includes stealing intellectual property by scourging the internet for copyrighted works without seeking permission from the rightful owners. This is a crucial point that I strongly support!

As stated by the union, “Stealing copyrighted materials, both nationally and globally, poses a risk to our earned healthcare advantages and future retirement stability.

The criticism against Perlmutter’s dismissal emerges at the same time as the union is collaborating with a group of industry partners to influence the White House regarding policies that might enhance domestic entertainment production. Following a meeting between actor and Hollywood’s “special envoy” Jon Voight and his team, and various stakeholders to devise a strategy to better U.S. film production, Pres. Donald Trump adopted one of their proposals – tariffs – and tweeted about imposing “100% tariffs” on foreign-made films on May 4.

As a passionate gamer, I found myself engrossed in the latest news about our beloved entertainment industry. On a recent Monday, organizations like IATSE and the Motion Picture Association (with Sylvester Stallone stepping up as a special representative) banded together to present a unified stance. They appealed to Trump, suggesting that he supports certain tax incentives within a legislative package currently being drafted by Congress. Essentially, they’re asking for a boost in funding to keep the show going!

Previously, IATSE expressed apprehension about the tariff concept, fearing potential repercussions for their Canadian members.

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2025-05-14 21:24