No - they are knowledgeable, and aware of copyright laws, at least at a superficial level. They may not be aware of the concept of plagiarism, which is not illegal, but considered unethical. They at first promised attribution, and may still come to the conclusion that it is best that they do so. Several of my friends are aware of their proclivity for lifting photos.
As I understand it, all are lifted from OGR forum, and the thought is that if it isn't marked, it is not copyright. That was true a quarter century ago, but no longer - you do not need to mark or register to hold a copyright.
Here is a summary of the statute - https://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf
I note that TCA Western initially agreed to attribution, and we mutually agreed to give them some time to do so. They now say it is easier to remove the photos, which, while not as good as keeping them with attribution, at least is not misleading, and is an ethical stance.
