Thursday, January 12, 2006

Geist abused by Canadian MP

Michael Geist has been verbally abused by a Canadian member of parliament, Sam Bulte, who has pushed for copyright reform following heavy campaign contributions by the entertainment industries. She says she won't let "Michael Geist and his pro-user zealots, and Electronic Frontier Foundation members" intimidate her.

How exactly did professor Geist intimidate her? Well he has been critical about proposals for Canadian copyright reform but it seems his intimidation comes in the form of a pledge which he has asked party leaders to take during the election campaign:

"No Member of Parliament who has accepted financial contributions or other benefits from (i) a copyright lobby group, (ii) its corporate members, or (iii) senior executives as well as (iv) a copyright collective shall serve as Minister of Canadian Heritage or as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, nor sit on any legislative committee (parliamentary or standing committees) conducting hearings or deliberations on copyright matters."

Mmm. So he's suggesting that an MP should not be allowed to take a job in parliament that would temp her into doing favours for the people who supported her election though significant funding or other benefits. Er... no... I'm looking hard but I can't see the intimidation factor here. What am I missing?

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