Public Knowledge Condemns Firing of Copyright Officials
Public Knowledge said President Donald Trump’s firing of the register of copyrights was illegal, and his termination of the librarian of Congress was motivated by prejudice. Register Shira Perlmutter was reportedly fired by email Saturday, and Librarian Carla Hayden was…
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removed from office last week. “The president has as much legal power to fire the Register of Copyrights as I do, which is to say: none,” said Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Meredith Rose in a release. “The Register of Copyrights is hireable and fireable only by the Librarian of Congress, and does not report to the president or the executive branch in any capacity.” Hayden’s termination was likely within Trump’s authority but came after the website Libs of the Library of Congress condemned her, Public Knowledge said. Hayden was the first Black librarian of Congress, and the first woman. “Anyone who thinks these things are unconnected lives in a state of ignorance,” Rose said. “Carla Hayden was fired because she is Black, and Shira Perlmutter remains the Register of Copyrights -- no matter what anyone says.” The White House didn’t comment.