Liberals Still Getting Hurt Online

In a follow-up to the previous post, it seems that there is more another Liberal MP finding himself the target of inpection over at popular blog Boing Boing. The controvercy is about the funding that Sam Bulte is receiving from the Canadian Motion Pictures Distributors Association. Michael Geist writes:

As with the January fundraiser, it is becoming increasingly clear that the pro-stronger copyright lobby is a major Bulte backer. From what I can find on the Elections Canada site, consider that Bulte’s riding association received contributions during this period from the following groups:

• Access Copyright
• Association Of Canadian Publishers
• Canadian Film & television Production Association
• Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency
• Canadian Publisher’s Council
• Canadian Non-Theatrical Film & Video Corp.
• Professional Association of Canadian Theatres
• Professional Photographers of Canada
• SOCAN

What makes the thousands of dollars raised from these groups particularly noteworthy is that Bulte’s riding association was the only one to receive such contributions. In other words, at a time when the publishing, music, movie, and photographer industries and collectives were concerned with copyright reform, they chose to provide campaign contributions to just one Member of Parliament – Sam Bulte (or at least only one chose to accept such contributions).

It seems that everyone is talking about this story.

Link via Boing Boing

Update: Sam Bulte’s entry in the Wikipedia now mentions the blogging:

During the 2006 federal election, Bulte was criticized by blogger Cory Doctorow and professor Michael Geist for her stances in favour of strict copyright laws and substantial campaign contributions from Canadian and American entertainment industries. They speculate she is a likely candidate for Heritage Minister in the next Parliament. ^[1]

via Accordian Guy who also has a rather unique graphic about the story.

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