The International Authors Forum (IAF) has expressed its support for the statement issued by its member organisation, the Authors Guild, condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to dismiss Shira Perlmutter as Register of Copyrights. This action, which followed the removal of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, has raised concerns about undue interference in the operations of a Legislative Branch agency.
Perlmutter has had a distinguished career in copyright law, including roles as a professor, senior advisor at the Copyright Office, before moving to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), where she played a key role in developing international treaties on copyright and the internet.
The Authors Guild has launched a petition calling for Perlmutter’s reinstatement, urging Congress to act in defence of the Copyright Office’s independence.