I always wondered what rights can be claimed once an image goes on the internet. It seems at that point anyone can lift it. I've seen pictures on facebook, that God knows, shouldn't be there. How about if a auction sales company puts a hidious watermark over an image so you won't want to copy, and then you remove the watermark in Photoshop. can you now claim the retouched photo as your own? If a photo is not used to sell something or other profit making use or used to hurt or defame someone, what limitations are there?
Below is a photo I altered from a French ebay listing. If that appeared somewhere else who would care?