Even if the artists aren't charging an admission fee to have their work seen, if they choose to display their work on specific web sites, and those web sites benefit as a result of the display, either by selling related products or by selling banner advertising based on traffic generated by the art, profit is being stolen.

Making a case isn't hard. Getting a prosecutor to pay attention in times like these is another matter. Which is why ridding the offenders of their illusion of anonymity is the quickest, least expensive way to increase their cooperation. But, as Kendra pointed out, it is rather "hardball" and probably best left as a last resort.

Then again, when they respond to requests to cease and desist with, "you can't stop us. There is nothing you can do about it," I can't help but think of them as children who need a spanking.