An online start-up is revolutionizing the way we view intellectual property on the internet. Attributor has developed software that scans the internet for stolen content. So far, the program can track text, images and video.

Attributor has incredible implications for media professionals and artists alike. Just think of how many times a careless blogger has stolen an image and neglected to cite the source.

Attributor conducted a study that took a look at how a number of celebrity photographs from Maxim were manipulated and spread around the web. While celebrities may appreciate this replication, the photographers do not. Each time one of your pieces gets re-posted without attribution, that's hundreds of missed opportunities to publicize your work.

Have you ever found one of your photographs replicated without attribution? Was it online?

Bloggers are not the only ones guilty of "photonapping." This Washington Post article takes a look at corporations that are stealing content from amateur photo snappers.

So the question is: does posting content online make it fair game for anyone's use? 

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times couldn't get away with it. Why should so many others?

Not to get preachy...  but perhaps the best thing you can do for your blog, and for the internet on a whole, is to cite your content. And maybe, just maybe, the next person who steals content from you will do the same.

If not... Attributor is gonna get 'em!