Elon Musk’s apparent power play at the Copyright Office completely backfired

The Verge - May 13th, 2025
Open on The Verge

In a dramatic shake-up at the US Copyright Office, former President Donald Trump replaced key officials, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter, with appointees perceived to be hostile to the tech industry. This move followed the release of a report by the Copyright Office, which criticized the use of copyrighted materials for training generative AI systems without compensation. The replacements, Paul Perkins and Brian Nieves, were backed by the MAGA faction, contrary to initial assumptions of support from Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The appointments have incited backlash from both tech industry advocates and the Democratic Party, highlighting a rare political alignment against Trump's actions.

The firings have intensified the debate over copyright law and AI, with the AI industry's broad interpretation of fair use clashing with traditional copyright protections. The situation also underscores a brewing constitutional crisis regarding the president's authority to remove officials in agency roles, particularly in the legislative branch. The MAGA wing's victory in installing anti-tech leadership is considered a political win against Silicon Valley, although the legal and political ramifications of Trump's actions remain uncertain. The lack of relevant experience among the new appointees further complicates the situation, as the Copyright Office plays a crucial role in shaping the future of AI and copyright law.

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RATING

5.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides an intriguing narrative about the intersection of politics, technology, and law, focusing on the alleged influence of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on recent firings at the US Copyright Office. While the story is timely and addresses issues of public interest, such as AI regulation and government transparency, it suffers from a lack of direct evidence and authoritative sources, which undermines its overall accuracy and credibility.

The article presents a critical perspective on the tech industry's influence, but it lacks balance by not sufficiently including viewpoints from the tech sector or those who support the firings. Its readability is generally good, though occasional jargon and unexplained references may confuse some readers. Despite these shortcomings, the story has the potential to engage readers and provoke debate, given its focus on controversial topics and high-profile figures.

To enhance its impact and reliability, the article would benefit from greater transparency in sourcing, more balanced representation of perspectives, and additional evidence to support its claims. Overall, it serves as a starting point for discussions on the complex relationship between government and technology but requires further investigation and corroboration to provide a comprehensive and credible analysis.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that require verification, such as the firing of key officials like Shira Perlmutter and Carla Hayden by Donald Trump, and the alleged involvement of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in these actions. While the firings are plausible given the political context, the story lacks direct evidence linking Musk or DOGE to these events, making these claims speculative without additional corroboration.

The article accurately describes the context of the Copyright Office report on AI, noting its conclusions about the use of copyrighted material in AI training. However, it does not provide direct citations or excerpts from the report, which would strengthen its factual basis. The story's assertion that the firings have sparked a constitutional crisis also requires further legal analysis to determine its accuracy.

Overall, while the article contains elements that are factually plausible, it relies on assumptions and lacks direct evidence for some of its more sensational claims. This diminishes its overall accuracy and requires readers to seek additional sources for confirmation.

5
Balance

The story appears to lean towards a critical perspective of the tech industry's influence on government decisions, particularly highlighting Elon Musk's alleged role. It presents the firings as a failed power play by tech interests, while also acknowledging the MAGA wing's opposition to these actions. However, it does not provide sufficient viewpoints from the tech industry or those who might support the firings, creating an imbalance in perspective.

The article includes reactions from both MAGA and Democratic parties, suggesting some attempt at balance. However, it primarily focuses on the conflict between these political factions and the tech industry, without offering a comprehensive view of the broader implications or potential benefits of the firings. This limits the story's ability to present a well-rounded analysis of the situation.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, presenting the events in a coherent narrative. It effectively outlines the sequence of events, from the firings to the resulting political fallout, making it easy for readers to follow the story.

However, the article occasionally uses jargon and references to specific political factions without sufficient explanation, which might confuse readers unfamiliar with the context. Providing additional background information or definitions for terms like 'MAGA wing' or 'DOGE' would enhance clarity and accessibility for a broader audience.

4
Source quality

The article does not clearly attribute its claims to specific sources, which affects its credibility. While it references unnamed government affairs lobbyists and sources familiar with the situation, it lacks direct quotes or detailed information about these sources' reliability or expertise.

The absence of authoritative sources or official statements from involved parties, such as Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency, or the fired officials, further undermines the article's source quality. The story could benefit from including verified statements or data to support its claims, enhancing its reliability and trustworthiness.

3
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its reporting methodology and source attribution. It does not disclose how information was obtained or the basis for its claims, leaving readers in the dark about the article's evidentiary foundation.

There is no mention of potential conflicts of interest or the methodology used to gather information, which are crucial for assessing the article's impartiality. The lack of transparency makes it difficult for readers to evaluate the credibility of the information presented and understand the full context of the story.

Sources

  1. https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/12/us_copyright_office_ai_copyright/
  2. https://www.commoncause.org/articles/elon-musk-bought-the-oval-office-how-is-he-using-it/
  3. https://fortune.com/2025/05/12/donald-trump-copyright-director-ai-companies-training-elon-musk-shira-perlmutter/
  4. https://ash.harvard.edu/articles/efficiency-%E2%88%92-or-empire-how-elon-musks-hostile-takeover-could-end-government-as-we-know-it/
  5. https://fortune.com/2025/02/18/openai-powersnon-profit-board-hostile-takeover-elon-musk/