Title: Bandwidth Theft - Hotlinking
Description: what it is, and how NOT to do it.
Description: what it is, and how NOT to do it.
Meriagrin Brandytook - March 27, 2005 08:34 AM (GMT)
I 'borrowed' this from the Lord Of The Rings Fanatics Plaza (Thankyou Hoth) because it applies to EVERY site and forum. It explains EXACTLY what hotlinking is. I have also copied my own instructions from the same thread on the Plaza on How To Post A Piccy - LEGALLY. Please read on.
| QUOTE |
| Dear Plaza members, Here is an issue that we have addressed before, yet, it is still an increasing problem on all websites, not least of which is ours.… Bandwidth Theft or Hotlinking. Some of you may know what this is. Some of you may not. Here is a brief explanation from some of the major organizations of the Internet; From Cisco Systems Glossary: Bandwidth: The speed at which a communications system can transfer data, usually measured in bits per second. Bandwidth Theft: This usually occurs in a web server environment when someone "links" his page to graphics or other data residing on a different website, effectively "stealing" the bandwidth of the site where the content resides for their downloads. From Tipz.net "Bandwidth Stealing Information (files) loaded to or from servers is called bandwidth. Every time you upload a file to your ISP, surf the web or download a video, you are using bandwidth. Bandwidth is limited. Why? Because it actually is a bunch of wires or fibers connecting servers to the global network. And wires can only carry so much data. When someone attempts to get more data than can be handled by the wire, the transmission of the data is slowed down. Some ISPs limit the amount of data that a site can use during a particular time period. As an example, an ISP might limit you to 1gb of data per month for your flat fee, then charge you an extra $10 for each additional gigabyte. Some of the more obnoxious ISPs actually just block transmissions when the bandwidth is exceeded (effectively putting that site out of business for a time). It’s common practice to load most of the images, sound files, videos and documents in your web on your own site. This excludes, of course, advertising banners which are rotated and some specific documents and images which are supposed to be loaded from a central location. It’s common among amateurs and beginners to link to images and other files directly to some other server instead of putting them on their local server. Sometimes they just don’t know better, sometimes they are just lazy, and sometimes they’ve just run out of space at their free host. So not only do they "steal" the image (it is probably copyrighted and they are copying it without permission each time the web site is loaded) they "steal" the bandwidth!! This is extraordinarily bad form, it’s tasteless and it should be avoided like the plague. In some extreme cases, unscrupulous "webmasters" (I use the term loosely) link to large zip files on other servers to give their own visitors extra features. This often occurs with sites containing downloadable software, wallpaper and desktop themes. DO NOT do this without permission! If you do, you are a thief and you are costing someone else money and aggravation. What do you do if someone links to your images or files without your permission and he will not stop? Replace the file with something else. A picture or document stating that this person is stealing bandwidth should suffice. If you can get the email address or phone number of the person, you might include it for additional impact." (They have also links for more information at the bottom of that page. Worth to look at.) From Ezboard Legal: VI. DIRECT LINKING/BANDWIDTH THEFT Definition: Posting or otherwise causing to appear an image which is hosted on webspace which one is not authorized to use, draining bandwidth from that webspace and costing its owner money every time the ezboard page containing the image is viewed. Often occurs in tandem with Copyright Infringement. The number of sites that are being stolen from, by people like yourselves is increasing daily. A look through the Legolas Love Letters forum, is enough to make my head do an exorcist twist and a Copyright Attorney to thank all the Gods Tolkien created for the wonderful bounty that will keep them in Kit-Kats for years to come . You and by proxy we, must be stealing bytes by the millions. Something we can ill afford to do. Another issue is stealing from us. Those of you that are archiving your house threads on separate servers and do not remove the icons, including the small profile ones, yes, they make a difference, are, though unintentionally, increasing the costs of our server rental significantly. As I am sure you are aware, this is something that the Plaza could do without with its continued survival dependant on money. Ok. It’s crunch time. Hotlinking will not be tolerated. This includes soundfiles. Do not link a picture to us or from us without permission. EVER. Any picture found on this site that is Hotlinked will be deleted with penalty. Persistant offenders will find themselves on holiday from the Plaza. Thank you for your time. |
| QUOTE |
| How to post a picture - legally - step by step 1. find picture 2. right click on picture 3. select 'save picture as' and save to computer 4. go to image host (I recommend www.photobucket.com or you could try www.ripway.com) and open account 5. upload picture from computer to image host 6. copy picture url - this is the http:// address below picture (or picture name) 7. go to thread that you want to post on 8. click on the IMG button - 9. paste url into address bar that appears (make sure you only have http:// once as some people manage to get it twice then the piccy doesn't work) and click on ok 10. post reply and enjoy piccy |
I hope this is clear enough for everyone who was previously unsure. Any questions???
Hestia - March 27, 2005 10:03 AM (GMT)
Thanks Jess. This is much appreciated (thank1)
I hope everything is clear to our members: if you have any questions, please ask! We don't allow hotlinking, so please follow instructions above.
I hope everything is clear to our members: if you have any questions, please ask! We don't allow hotlinking, so please follow instructions above.
Meriagrin Brandytook - March 31, 2005 09:52 AM (GMT)
I also have instruction for photobucket users on how to do those nice little things called clicky piccies and I'll post it as a clicky - 
maddy - March 31, 2005 10:57 PM (GMT)
OMG!! What a coincidence!! I was going to ask about how to do that!! Thankies (--)
Hacky - March 31, 2005 11:14 PM (GMT)
(wOw) Thats great thank you, I feel like I understand things much more now ><() and I thought I knew most of it anyway!