Filmmaker, UI settle over flood photos and video

A Cedar Rapids documentary filmmaker has signed an agreement with the University of Iowa over use of photos and videos the UI previously said were protected from release by federal copyright law.

Doug Krejci filed a complaint with the Iowa Public Information Board in August about the UI declining to release photos and video of the 2008 floods that deluged Eastern Iowa, including the UI campus. Krejci, who operates audio, video and web production company Accent Media Inc., wants to use the media to make a documentary film about the floods.

The UI said the materials were exempt from the law because federal copyright laws protect the creative works of employees.

However, 'the parties have negotiated and signed a settlement agreement,” Board Deputy Director Margaret Johnson said in a Tuesday report to the board, scheduled to meet Thursday in Des Moines.

The agreement says the UI will provide raw unedited photos and video requested by Krejci, but the media will include UI markings making it so Krejci can't use the footage in his films without first seeking additional permission for specific clips. Krejci agrees in the settlement, signed March 20, that he would file for dismissal of his complaint to the board.

Krejci has not yet dismissed the complaint, Johnson noted in the report.

Johnson also recommended the board dismiss a complaint filed against U.S. Rep. Rod Blum for restricting access to a town-hall meeting earlier this month.

Chris Travellors, of Iowa City, filed a complaint with the board May 9 asserting Blum, R-Dubuque, broke Iowa's Open Meetings law by 'establishing various rules for attendance at his town hall meeting May 8, 2017,” Johnson said.

Blum required people who wanted to attend one of his four town halls May 8-11 to show ID indicating they live in his 20-county district.Blum walked out of an interview May 8 with KCRG-TV9 after reporter Josh Scheinblum asked the Congressman why his staff barred non-district forum attendees while Blum had accepted donations from people outside the district.

The public information board won't rule on Travellors's complaint because Blum isn't subject to Iowa's Open Meetings law, which, in general, assures meeting of governmental bodies are announced and open to the public.

'Chapter 21 does not apply to Congressman Blum, as he does not meet the definition of a governmental body,” Johnson wrote. 'He is not required to modify any of his meeting rules under Iowa Code Chapter 21.”

Boards, councils, commissions or other groups created by state law or by executive order are considered governmental bodies under Chapter 21. Other entities subject to the law include subcommittees and task forces of government agencies, nonprofit gaming entities whose facilities are supported by taxes and governing bodies of drainage or levee districts as outlined in Chapter 468.

l Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com