3 Key Takeaways:
- The Trump administration’s firing of the Copyright Office chief and the proposed 10-year AI regulation ban represent a major shift in U.S. policy.
- If passed, the bill would freeze or wipe out state laws protecting creators from AI misuse, leaving artists with fewer rights and less control.
- The outcome could set a national precedent, giving Big Tech more freedom and putting the future of creative work at risk for a decade.
AI and Copyright: A Double Blow for Creators
The Trump administration has made two major moves that could reshape how artificial intelligence interacts with creative industries. First, Shira Perlmutter, head of the U.S. Copyright Office, was fired after raising concerns about AI’s use of copyrighted works. Now, House Republicans have slipped a provision into the federal budget bill that would ban any state or local AI regulation for a full decade
What’s in the Bill? States Handcuffed on AI Rules
The late addition to the budget bill would block states and cities from passing or enforcing laws on AI models, automated decision systems, or even rules about transparency, bias, or data usage. That means no new state-level protections for artists, musicians, or anyone whose work could be used to train AI
Until now, states like Tennessee have passed laws-like the ELVIS Act-to protect artists from AI misuse. If this bill passes, those laws would be frozen for ten years. Proposed measures such as the No FAKES Act, which would stop AI from creating unauthorized replicas of artists, could be dead on arrival.
Existing Laws Under Threat: What Could Disappear
Laws already on the books, like Tennessee’s ELVIS Act, could be blocked. This would strip away hard-earned protections for creators, leaving them exposed to AI systems that can copy, remix, or monetize their work without consent or compensation
Musicians, visual artists, and content creators would lose control over how their work is used by AI. Without state rules, there’s no guarantee of royalties, credit, or even consent when AI systems use their creations.
Human vs. AI Music: What’s at Stake
| Feature | Human-Created | AI-Generated |
|---|
| Royalties Paid | Yes | Often No |
| Credit & Attribution | Yes | Rare |
| Consent from Artists | Required | Not Always |
Without state-level oversight, there would be no required bias audits, no data transparency, and no way for artists to opt out of having their work used to train AI. Critics argue this shields tech giants from accountability and puts profits ahead of creative rights.
What Happens Next? Senate Holds the Key
The bill still needs Senate approval. If it passes, it would set a national precedent and delay meaningful AI regulation for a crucial decade, making it much harder for states to protect creators as AI technology evolves.
This move raises a big question: Should a federal budget bill be used to block states from defending the rights of artists and creators in the face of rapid AI advances?
