I don't find it smug at all. I work in film, and whether I'm on set or writing a screenplay I make my business to know my responsibilities in regards to other people's copyrights and trademarks. And this is at the low-budget end, I don't collect a fat salary for rubber-stamping clearance forms or anything like that. I do the research, I write and ask for permission or information about authorship, and if I don't the reply I hoped for then I shelve the idea or rethink it. As a creator, I have a responsibility to treat the creative work of others with the same respect that I would like them to treat mine.

Yes, it's often tedious and frustrating, and involves hours of work that I'd rather spend writing or photographing new material. On the other hand, I don't live in fear of demand letters.