"steal my content, but be sure to drop a linkback and give me credit as the source"
you are legally saying:
"I hereby grant you a license to reprint this content provided you drop a linkback and give me credit as the sourse, and if you do not do those things I just mentioned in the proviso I will be empowered to sue you for copyright infringement and breach of contract."
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Brent Britton.
ok to steal, but... = license
When you say:
"steal my content, but be sure to drop a linkback and give me credit as the source"
you are legally saying:
"I hereby grant you a license to reprint this content provided you drop a linkback and give me credit as the sourse, and if you do not do those things I just mentioned in the proviso I will be empowered to sue you for copyright infringement and breach of contract."