Direct Linking Information
Many people who run RPGs are clueless about direct-linking. So this is an attempt to get some awareness out there, to stop some RPG owners or site directory owners getting frustrated with people who just don't listen. Some people do it out of ignorance and so here's some more information about Direct-linking, including why it is wrong and illegal (yep, it really is illegal).
What is it?
What is direct-linking?
Direct-linking or hot-linking is when you right click on a graphic's url and copy and paste the image url into a html code. This means you are linking directly to an image on someone elses server.
When is it ok to direct-link?
It is ok to direct-link images from other photobucket.com accounts (or any other image hosting) if you have the account owners permission. The only real problems start when you start direct-linking images on someone's paid website - such as my domain Artisticchardon.com.
Why do people get so grumpy/rude about direct-linking?
Not only is it impolite to direct-link when you've been asked not to, but it is illegal. Would you steal someone's chocolate? Bandwidth can be stolen if you direct-link images, no matter how small they are. This can cause a website owner to pay more money or for their website to stop working due to 'bandwith being exceeded'.
What can be done to stop direct-linking?
There are methods for website owners to stop direct-linking (htaccess), however, the main problem is ignorance. The best way to do this is to help spread the word about direct-linking and make people aware of what they are doing. See below for ways to link to this page to help do just that.
How can I avoid direct-linking?
Here is how you can avoid direct-linking an image:
1) Did you save the image to your computer?
If you saved the image to your computer and then uploaded it to your own website or image hosting account, you are not direct-linking.
2) Don't have webspace? Get a free image hosting account.
There are now several free image hosting websites around. I recommend Photo bucket.com which is very easy to use. A free image host is basically a site where you can upload images and direct-link them. This is useful if you have a forum/message board or yahoo group.
3) What does your html code say?
Your html coding for images should have a link to the image hosted at your server:
Or:
Both of these are correct. If the "img src=" says a url that is not your server or your image hosting account, then that is direct-linking.
4) Does it say direct-linking is allowed?
Even if an image is hosted at a free image host, i.e photobucket.com account, that does not always mean you can direct-link it! Only direct-link from another free image host if it specifically says you are free to direct-link the image.
Help stop direct-linking by spreading the word!
If you would like to spread the word about direct-linking, please link back to this campaign in the following ways.
Link to: http://distant-fantasies.net/dl/
Buttons
You can either upload these buttons to your own webspace/image account or copy and paste the html code or BB code below. They are hosted at my photo bucket account so you may direct-link them.
Html Code:
BB Code:
Change IMAGE URL with the url of the image you wish to use.
TEXT LINKS:
If you don't want to use a button a text link will work just as well. Maybe link this page on your forum or website when discussing images or direct-linking?
Html:
BB Code:
Both of these codes will look like this:
Don't know what Direct-Linking is? Take a look at the Direct-Linking Information at Distant Fantasies!