This place originates from a less litigious internet age - there's got to be plenty still with the same "emoticons" as you'd download from here - but it is what it is. Twenty years ago you used them with "snitz" written in tiny letters at the bottom of your page. You never paid for it - but that was the point - everyone added their own knowledge and experience to the code and the support and in return noone paid anything.
These days, emoticons are pointless thanks to ISO recognition of "emojis" so I highly doubt anyone cares that this site has stolen them, to be fair... sorry! But also thanks probably? I haven't been here for a long time...
Edit: looks like an old style Snitz forum with the tag removed. Could sue but... who's gonna?