This site might help: http://webdesign.about.com/od/copyright/a/aa081700a.htm
Yes. Editing an existing image (no matter how much/little) does not void the original creators copyright and without permission is still considered infringement.
No, because there's nothing to steal. Using an image without permission or an exemption in the law is copyright infringement.
Copying, altering, distributing, or performing/displaying the file without permission from the copyright holder or an exemption in the law would be considered infringement.
Nothing about it is "legal." Copyright infringement is illegal.
If someone is no stranger to allegations of copyright infringement, it means he gets accused of copyright infringement a lot.
Copyright protection is automatic, and notification is not required. Virtually any image you encounter is protected by copyright unless specifically noted otherwise.
Copyright infringement is primarily a civil offense however there are options to prosecute criminally in the case of "willful and deliberate" acts of infringement. Ignorance of the existence of copyright is not a viable defense to infringement. If an author is convicted of copyright infringement the publisher can be held liable for contributory infringement if it can be shown that they had knowledge of the infringement prior to publication. If, by a preponderance of the evidence, infringement can be shown then yes a damages award to the copyright holder can be granted.
no
"Copyright in fragment" is a common misspelling of "copyright infringement," which is the violation of copyright.
Yes. Copyright infringement of any form is a violation of federal law.
Infringement.
In the United States, most punishment for copyright infringement is in the form of fees. Statutory damages can range from $750 to $30,000 per infringement.