Don't care for artists but companies would be foolish to strike down freelancers. It is basically free advertising, and it keeps the attention on the brand. Plus, the PR from a company slapping down someone isn't worth the couch change they would get back. Lots of companies end up supporting or promoting fan content as a way to boost interest, find talent and get good PR (Sega, Capcom, Lego, Westwood back when it was alive). There are some exceptions for companies that you should never fuck with like Sanrio and Ferrari but they are rare.
