If I may get a little meta, the goal of copyright is to reward someone for sharing an idea while allowing those who consume the idea to turn around and share it themselves. Since one cannot truly "own" an idea, copyright uses the "expression" of the idea as a proxy, since (in theory) re-expressing the idea extracts an effort penalty. For example, if I read words you publish, I can't just republish your words without your agreement. I can however express your idea in my own words. I may choose to just pay you to use your expression if generating my own is too costly.
Photographs and "news" reveal the weakness of using "expression" as a mechanism for judging whether copyright exists. If I email my next door neighbor and tell him "garbage pickup is on tuesday" and he emails the exact words to his neighbor, has he violated copyright, or is he reporting news? If I attach a photo of the garbage pickup schedule, have I violated copyright? If I attribute the schedule to the trash company am I compliant?
My point is that copyright is complex and imperfect, and finding the balance of power is very difficult.
You are absolutely right, I don't disagree with you. That was a poor choice of words on my part.
Despite how it may appear in other comments I've made in this thread, I don't believe corporate entities are entitled to use a photographer's works for profit and without attribution.
This may seem contradictory, but that's because I have failed to make the proper distinction between sharing for personal use and using for profit.
Photographs and "news" reveal the weakness of using "expression" as a mechanism for judging whether copyright exists. If I email my next door neighbor and tell him "garbage pickup is on tuesday" and he emails the exact words to his neighbor, has he violated copyright, or is he reporting news? If I attach a photo of the garbage pickup schedule, have I violated copyright? If I attribute the schedule to the trash company am I compliant?
My point is that copyright is complex and imperfect, and finding the balance of power is very difficult.