> if content in the public domain, freed from copyright law, would still be subj...

> if content in the public domain, freed from copyright law, would still be subject to arbitrary usage limits.

But that's not what happened.

The content was placed in the public domain.

Then the author was notified

> your company does not have a valid license for use of the image(s)

If you want to release something for free without conditions, it should not be subject to conditions by those who did not create it