Library, legal, and academic coalition issues joint letter demanding congressional oversight following firing of Register of Copyrights
A national coalition of library leaders, copyright experts, legal scholars and public interest organizations has issued an urgent joint letter to Representative Bryan Steil, Chair of the Joint Committee on the Library, calling for immediate congressional oversight in response to the politically motivated removal of Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter.
The letter — coordinated by the eBook Study Group and signed by national organizations raises alarm over what they describe as an unconstitutional intrusion by the executive branch into a domain historically governed by Congress.
Signatures include:
• eBook Study Group
• EveryLibrary Institute
• Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)
• Association of Midwest Museums
• Authors Alliance
• Boston Public Library
• Creative Commons
• C/W MARS Inc
• Library Futures
• Open Copyright Education Advisory Network (OCEAN)
• Public Knowledge
• University Information Policy Officers (UIPO).
“The dismissal of the Register of Copyrights is not just a personnel decision, it’s a direct threat to the integrity of our copyright system and the independence of the Copyright Office,” added Kyle K. Courtney, founder of the eBook Study Group, “We urge Congress to act swiftly in defense of its constitutional role in promoting the progress of science and the arts.”
“This is a direct challenge to congressional authority under Article I of the Constitution,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of the EveryLibrary Institute. “Congress created the Copyright Office to serve the public and the creative economy, not to be subjected to political purges. These firings send a chilling message to everyone who values the impartial stewardship of copyright policy in this country.”
The coalition is calling for the Joint Committee on the Library to hold formal hearings to investigate the rationale, process, and legality of these firings. The letter also outlines the importance of maintaining an impartial and technically proficient Copyright Office to safeguard the balance between creators’ rights and public access to knowledge.
The full letter is available here: ebookstudygroup.org/joint_letter_dismissal_register_of_copyrights.
About the eBook Study Group: The eBook Study Group is a national coalition of librarians, state legislators, and policy advocates committed to ensuring equitable digital access in libraries. The group supports state and federal legislation that protects the ability of libraries to serve their communities in the digital era.