“Plead copyright ownership, since you ‘published’ the information”
Copyrights have to be filed, no?
No.
Not any more, though filing is still an option.
Another important minimum rule established by the Berne Convention is that copyright arises with the creation of a work and does not depend upon any formality such as a system of public registration (Article 5(2)).
"Work" is very broadly defined.
The so called three-step test holds that an exception is only permitted "in certain special cases, provided that such reproduction does not conflict with a normal exploitation of the work and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author".
It may only serve as a nuisance, but a few million nuisances can add up to a major PITA.