RE: CounterMeasures for Curators to Minimize Farming and Fraud
It is not only a matter of respect to list the sources, the reason why sources need to be credited is so the curators know what part of the composition/motive you created yourself and also so the curators can see to what level (if any) you transformed it. It is not a matter of law in that sense but of transparency and honesty, and as to allow viewers and curators to know what part (if any) you created yourself.
Certain CC licences (which is public domain) explicitly require attribution, so in those cases it is public domain and legally required to list the sources.
If you use a copyrighted image as reference, listing the source does not cover you legally as you say, but at least you are not deceiving curators and viewers into thinking the artwork is 100% created by you.
Using multiple sources doesn't except you from having to list the sources, curators and viewers still have the right to know what you created yourself and what comes from another author.
It is irrelevant from the perspective of curators and viewers if the source listed is not the original source, what is important within that context is that you communicate it's not created by you, but somebody else, who specifically is that somebody else is secondary.
Have a great day.
"Certain CC licences (which is public domain) explicitly require attribution, so in those cases it is public domain and legally required to list the sources."
.... as do mine (attribution, no derivatives, non commercial), and quoting the source is OK as long as you do not use it for commercial purposes, meaning since you are posting here for earning Steem, you are commercial, so quoting the source, as in any other copyright material, is not enough be be legal.
On the other hand, if you purchase the rights for an image it is yours to do with as you like (within the parameter of the license you bought).
so certain CC licenses require, legally, attribution, namely: you were wrong.
we do not post in any artistic tag, where the main content rewarded is artistic, although I agree with you hunting abusers can be called an art.
Have a great day.