I see that he has pretty much removed his posts, but there are some valid points to people altering someone else's photo and claiming as their own. I have had it happen to me, as have many other photographers I know. If it is done without the copyright owner's permission, it is theft of the owner's intellectual property. Most photographers, if asked nicely, will usually allow their work to be used in artwork within reason. If it is done without their permission, they have a right to defend their work.
oh dont get me wrong Eric, i totally agree with what he was saying, personally i think the examples he posted were total rip off's of other peoples work and slightly altered for personal profit, but just felt his point had been made in several threads