This document discusses concerns around copyright and intellectual property issues for visual artists in the age of web technology. It notes that iconic images like the Mona Lisa and Monkey Mouse were created before modern copyright protections, so their creators did not financially benefit from their widespread popularity. While the internet provides exposure for artists, it also allows easy copying and distribution of works without proper attribution. The document discusses ongoing legal battles around copyright infringement and argues that current technologies are not sufficient to absolutely protect artists' images online, similar to how no system can completely prevent theft in online banking.