Just say "No".

What am I saying "No" to?

• Image harvesting
• Hot-linking

What's that?  Well, here are some definitions, to explain what I'm talking about:

Image harvesting: Displaying someone else's online photograph(s) or image(s) (photos /images you did not take/did not create yourself) on another website or blog without the image owner's consent in advance.  In short, this is image theft.

Hot-linking:  The use of a linked image or other object at one site, for display on another site.    Also referred to as "leeching", piggy-backing, inline-linking, off-site image grabbing.  In short, without consent, this is bandwidth theft.  ETA for clarification:  Every time you view a page, bandwidth is used. Hot-linking is a method of using one website's bandwidth (where the image or object is actually hosted) to "display" it on another.   But, if you're using another site's bandwidth to display their image on your site, you are, in effect, using their bandwidth, every time that page is loaded at your site, at their (often times increased) expense/cost, hence:  bandwidth theft.

In an effort to help me illustrate hot-linking, artists Jerri Jimenez and Jenn Balcer have granted me permission to hot-link to images on their respective blogs.  See the images shown below my signature line at the end of this blog entry.

Many individuals have been, or are finding themselves, victims of this type of theft, including myself.

Many artists devote considerable time and resources to share their creations, and other helpful information, including tutorials, online at their websites/blogs.  Some are hobbyists, and others may be professionals.

However, the courtesy of asking permission, in the interest of good netiquette, prior to taking or using someone else's images or other content from their site or blog, goes a long way in fostering good will and continued sharing among us all in the stamping and paper-crafting community, and holds true whether one is a hobbyist or a professional to the industry.

So, why did I bring this up, out of the blue?  Because, sadly, image, content and bandwidth theft are becoming increasingly rampant.

I don't want to cease sharing online because of it, but, I'll be upfront in that it has definitely affected what, how much, and how frequently I share online.

I will also say that I do believe, or want to believe, that the issue has become so problematic because  many folks are simply unaware that these practices are considered theft on the internet--a case of "everyone" is doing it, so it is assumed to be OK . . .

So, what can be done about the epidemic of image/bandwidth theft?  To be frank, the only way to stop it is to stop sharing online . . . Legally, it would not be worth the financial resources to pursue it for the average individual, either.  I might add, that just because images and content CAN be copied and pasted or hot-linked, that doesn't mean it's ethical or right to do so (without consent/permission).

Ultimately, the answer lies in all of us, by keeping in mind how our actions impact other individuals, and to treat each other with courtesy.

That's a good start!  I'm in.  Who's with me?

Links to the next articles in this series:

• More on hot-linking (Just say "No", Part II)
• Just say "No", Part III
• Discussion:  Q &A on hot-linking/image use

• "I like to share, too . . .",  by Janine @  Stamp, Paper, Scissors

Images below are examples of hot-linking, courtesy of artists Jerri Jimenez, and Jenn Balcer

Basically, I'm using the bandwidth from their blogs to display their images here at my blog.

Every time someone's browser loads the page with these images,  it contacts their servers (not mine) for the image content.   Although the images are seen here, the viewing of this page causes an increase in bandwidth usage, not for my site, but for THEIR sites!  Increased bandwidth usage can often result in increased bandwidth cost.  Now, who carries the cost of this increased bandwidth usage?  Not me, if I'm "leeching" it from theirs.

I hope this better illustrates what hot-linking is and why it is it is considered deplorable netiquette.

Special thanks to Jerri and Jenn for assisting me with this illustration!

Comments

[Jean]

Thank you so much for sharing. I was totally unaware of this hot-linking, image harvesting legal stuff. It sounds so awful when most of us just want to share each others creativity. Just make sure your gentle with those of us who are so envious and try so hard to learn from each image we view. SCRAP HAPPY!

[Kristine]

Thanks for posting this! I've been designing and maintaining websites for longer than I have been scrapping and stamping so I know all about hot linking and image harvesting and the headaches it causes for website owners. I think it's great to educate the paper crafting community on things like this because not everyone realizes it's a bad thing.

[Ruth]

I don't have a blog...yet, but I hope to have one someday. I am glad you posted this because I know very little about computers and would have had no idea that this was costing anyone! I have often seen people refer their readers to a favorite blog they enjoy and have found many wonderful sites this way, and I really don't know how to tell which ones are just links and which ones would steal bandwidth. But thanks to you, I will get a tutorial from my IT-guru nephew who knows EVERYTHING! Thanks!

[cheryl]

great post. I have read a lot of the comments and are hoping you answer a lot of the questions being asked as I too share the confusion of a lot of your viewers. I believe that for most of our blogging family we are honest people and truly want to do what's right; but your right, sometimes we may be doing things innocently but someone may be getting harmed in the long run. Thanks for bringing the awareness!

[Cheryl]

Okay, I am fairly new to blogging - definately a slow-learner, but have never posted anyone's photos on it but my own...but...because I look at so many blogs, I do sometimes copy & paste a photo of an idea into an idea file in my computer (not to publish, but to reference!) so I can find it again to CASE - and because of the watermark, I knew I would have the means to identify who I cased. Guess I never thought to ask, as I thought it would be a great way to keep track and keep handy in case my server is down. if it is a no-no, please let me know!

[Joanne Basile]

Yeah Julie for such a well written post on this touch subject matter. You know I'm ALL IN! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

[Marisa]

I was referred here by Julie Buhler's blog. WELL DONE, on your comments here, Julie!!! Think this should be an article on SCS for everyone to read as I'm sure many are not aware of this. I don't have a blog, but it was wonderful to get this information as I wasn't aware of the "bandwidth" theft part. Ouch!! Makes prefect sense when you think about it.

Makes me mad to know some people do it knowingly and even madder to think that bloggers where we all get so much inspiration from will limit their creations because of it!

Makes me wonder how many are unaware of this issue too. I'm sure some have seen it done on other blogs, start their own and have no idea they are thieving.

Thanks for the head's up!!

[Jennifer Buck]

I'm IN! :) Thank you so very much for this post, Julie! I'm pretty new to this whole thing but was a bit frustrated when it was first brought to my attention. Thank you for getting the word out so eloquently! :)

[Patrina Hight]

Okay let me start by saying thank you for posting this here for us. However, I must say that some of the comments are a little harsh. I myself have just started blogging and simply don't know all the guidelines. There is one blogger in particular that I LOVE and respect to the up most. I recently posted a card that really had nothing to do with her blog other than the fact that I said she "enabled" me to purchase the DSP becaused she used it often. I then placed a link to her blog( thinking that it would send her some extra viewers). I'm thinking now that instead of helping her, I was actually harming her. I think that it is really harsh too call people theives for something that is simply an ignorance factor more so than theft. If anyone would like to view my blog and help me figure out what things that I've posted incorrectly, I would defenantly appreciate it. Thanks again for sharing this article with us. I truely appreciate it.

[Carole (TruCarMa)]

I'm 100% with you, girlie! Thanks for taking the time and effort to explain this to us masses. You're fabulous!

[Katie Cotton (makeupartistkatie)]

wow! I would have never known. I always upload my own pictures, even when i'm using them off someone else's blog (for example if a cardmaker puts a sketch on their blog, i'll copy the picture and then upload it to my blog. Of course i do state where the sketch did originate from. but here's my other question... when i use a stamp from a company, i always insert a link back to the company or to where the stamp is on their website for sale. I always wanted to do it out of the curtosy of promotion, helping others see what they have for sale. Is this hot linking? I dont want to do anything to damage them, i'm trying to help them! :) And i also will insert the links of friends blogs, or where i got an idea. Again, it's all in helping to promote people i admire their artwork, but i would never want to cause a problem.

[Chris Mott]

Great post! I

I have a question? How about the blogging games, when we choose someone site because they have a great one? Thanks for any advice. Chris

[Colleen]

Hey Julie... you are always so on top of things. I "get" the image harvesting thing (I think)... and I would never post someone elses work and take credit for it.

I do a weekly "Friday Feature" on my blog where I search the galleries and blogs and find a card (or project) that totally inspires me and then I create my own work from that inspiration. I always post the piece that inspired me along with links to the persons blog and gallery along with my own creation. I always alert the person in case they don't want to be "featured"...

Is this wrong? Usually the photo is from a gallery and I save it to my computer and upload it to my blog (so it shouldn't use their bandwith) and then I create a link to their blog homepage.

I think I'm doing it the right way, but if I'm not... I sure would like to know. I know this is such an important issue... and I want to be a responsible blogger while still sharing other inspirational crafters with my readers too.

[Carolyn King]

Thanks Julie---I found this very informative and linked your article on my blog (hope that is ok!?!) Thanks for passing this info along!

[Lacey Stephens]

Hi there. I found this link through Niki Estes. I have a question. When I participate with a sketch challenge, I save the image to my hard drive, then upload the image in my blog post. I always link to the originator of the sketch challenge. Is this considered image stealing? Since it's a sketch challenge, I want to show what the sketch is...and since it's a sketch challange, usually it's open to everyone's participation...I guess the authorization is implied. But I could be totally wrong. I wouldn't want to do something that was wrong. Please let me know and I will adjust the way I do sketch challenges. Thank you!
~Lacey Stephens

[diane mcvey]

I enjoy your blog so much, and many others. I don't have my own, so I can't be "a bad guy"...but I know they are out there. It's too bad that others take advantage of your talent and generosity this way. I'm so sorry! I hope you don't stop blogging because of some of the negative things that happen. I love you, Julie! :D

[Michelle Laycock]

Thanks so much for sharing this, Julie. I had planned as soon as things aren't as busy to do an article on this myself. But you describe the problem eloquently.

I'm going to link to this post at my site because it is a very important issue and people need to be aware that this practice if frowned upon.

Thanks for taking the time to put together an awesome post.

M

[Lynn Larson]

This is a great post. I actually had one of my photos "lifted" and used on ebay to sell a set of cards. Another person made me aware of the situation. I didn't use a watermark at the time and I was totally blown away by someone doing this and thinking it was okay. It was for a set of four popsicle cards and you could see the shadowing in the picture and also the grains on the popsicle sticks were exactly like my photo. There was absolutely no question this person used my photos for monetary gain. It is just terrible that people do things like this!

[BeckyS]

Thanks for discussing this!

I posted a blank baby book a couple years ago and someone took all the images, added their own pictures, and reposted the book as their own. Then made excuses when confronted. Unbelievable.

[Allison F]

This is a great post! I always just put a link to their blog when I am inspired by something so that my readers have to actually go to their blog to see it! I hope that is doing it appropriately!

People are "stealing" the most ridiculous things. Someone has actually stolen my banner off my blog, removed my blog name and put in their own! I've contacted her to remove it or at the very least give me credit for making it, but she's just ignored me. What is wiht people????

[Jeanne S]

I'M IN!!!

Thank you Your Royal Smartness for putting into words a issue that many feel strongly about but lack your wonderful way with words to explain. Thanks so much Julie!

[Becca Shogren]

Thank you for this information Julie! I just found this through Alli Miles blog and am glad I took the time to read it. I am still a bit confused about it all because sometimes I am slow at understanding because I am a bit computer stupid. But I guess you are basically saying if you want to use someone's image on your site then you should get permission first? Seems easy enough to me...and, personally, I wouldn't dream of using someone's stuff without asking! To me it is just common courtesy, but I know everyone isn't so honest.

[Bonnie aka raduse]

You're awesome!! Count me in.

[Angelnorth]

Thanks for posting this Julie! There does seem to be an upswing in sites presenting other people's projects and while it might seem flattering to get your project picked as 'the best', it would be a whole lot better if permission had been sought and granted.

For anyone not getting what Julie's saying - it's fine to put a link on your blog that says "click here to visit X's blog and see a fantastic card made with the diddlydebop stamp set". The no-no is to put the picture from X's blog on your own without her permission. It doesn't matter whether you save the image onto your own computer and then upload it to your blog (that would be image harvesting) or whether you use your blog's facility to show an image from somewhere else on the web as if it's part of your own blog (that's bandwidth theft). Hope that helps!

[katherine (beadfreak22)]

I'm IN, Jules. I hope and pray that these theives will knock it off before talented people like you stop sharing your work with the rest of us. That would make me boo hoo hoo.

[Karen Q]

I am totally in agreement. I do not have a blog, but I always view images from the artist only. I would be terribly saddened if my favorite bloggers were to stop. Stamping should be about sharing not stealing! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[Renee O.]

Sorry to be so stupid, but I have a question. If I post a picture on my blog that is mine and say it was inspired by this picture and put a link to that picture then I am stealing? I thought I was just giving credit where credit was due. I didn't know I was stealing or maybe I have this all wrong. Could you please clarify for those of us who just don't get it? Thanks so much.

[Marilyn]

It is a common courtesy to remember: Do not steal! How hard is that.

We learned it as kindergarteners that if it belongs to someone else you do not take it without their permission.

In this day and age of I-can-have-whatever-I-want-whenever, we have lost the art of politeness... thank you for holding your hand out and saying "NO"... enough is enough.

I don't have a blog or photo gallery, but I do enjoy reading others blogs and being inspired by creative artisans such as yourself.

Thank you for what you do, the sharing of your talent and your ability to say what you REALLY mean.

You are a gem, Marilyn

[Charlene]

Do you mean they link to the image rather than inserting a link to to the webpage? Totally greek to me.

[KellyRae - Coolidge, AZ]

Thanks for the info Julie. I would be horrified if I caused an artist extra expense. I do have question...is it okay to type the words "click here" and then attach the link URL, so that the blog visitor then leaves my blog and goes to the inspiration blog? I guess I'm a little hazy on that part because it's not showing the image on my blog but it is linking from my blog.

[rachel Shirk]

I'm with you Julie. It's too bad that this happens. :(

[Sharon (notimetostamp)]

Thank you for posting this, Julie -- well explained!!! Let's hope it helps!!!

[Travis Spencer]

There might not be a surefire way of preventing hot linking, but it can be reduced. Check out this demo page I put together showing this:

http://travisspencer.com/tmp/thief.html

The same page can be seen from PSU's server at http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~tspencer/thief.html where the leach prevention will not apply (since it's hosted on their server in this case).

(Note to other readers: if this stuff is flying over your head, check out http://wordworx.com/.)

P.S. I got my stamping wife's approval to post on your blog. I hope you don't mind that I infringe on your space.

[Tosh]

Well put Julie! Thanks for taking the time to explain this!!

[Tami Mayberry]

Excellent timing on this one Lady! I have found this to be a hot topic lately where the particular situation becomes one where you are "between a rock and a hard place" trying to figure out what to do. Like you said, an "everyone is doing it" sorta thing. It really bums me out though that so many people have now had to put their blogs on short feed and I miss them because lately I haven't had the extra time so "no feed=no read". :(

[Bonnie Sharp]

Sorry, I still don't get it. I don't have a clue what band-width is and/or if I am stealing it. I guess that is my question. Am I doing it? If I am, someone let me know and I will stop.

[Beth Rang]

Thank you for clarifying this issue! I've only had a vague idea of what hotlinking is.

I have an odd question though. If the site in question sells advertising, wouldn't increased links to their site make a stronger case to advertisers? I'm not sure how the whole hits thing works in terms of whether or not someone accessing a site's information counts as a hit.

[dawn]

thanks Julie!

[Sherry Cheever]

Excellent post, Julie!

[Kittie]

I'm certainly in, Julie! Thanks for dealing with the subject.

[DonnaD]

So when I put one of your card photos in my favorites folder on my desktop to look at for inspiration or to show a friend, you have to pay for it? I don't get that.

If I email one of your pictures to a friend to show her a gorgeous card I know she will adore, you have to pay for it?

I don't get it because I have never been charged a single cent for anyone saving or emailing my stuff because I know my friend does it off my blog all the time.

I feel really dense here. I am thrilled when people either link to my blog or even drag off a picture and post on their blog showing my creations to their friends and directing them to my blog. I have never been charged. Who would charge me anyway? Blogs are free!

[Jen]

I'm IN!

[Lisa Silver (silvergirl)]

Thanks for posting this, Julie. Your voice means so much in the stamping world! It certainly gives pause to whether we continue to share and post.

Hugs,
lise

[Jenn E.]

You had me at NO, dear! Brilliant post, and so eloquently put. (You know, we really must meet one of these days.)

[Jami Sibley]

Here! Here! All Hail HRR!!!! Seriously - it's so frustrating to see this happening more and more and even more frustrating that so many people see absolutley nothing wrong with it!!!!! Thanks for bringing this issue to the limelight!

[Anna Wight (SweetMissDaisy)]

I LOVE YOU!
Oh wait ... that wasn't the response you were looking for...
Or maybe it WAS!!! =)

[Jerri Kay]

Thank You Julie, a fabulous read, let's hope the message gets out there! I'm in with you.

[lindastamps]

My day job I am part of the web team of my company and because I'm in business I know these rules, they are also common sense. Copyright is there for the protection of everyone and should be taken seriously. Anything you see on someone else's website is THEIRS. An example of bandwidth stealing: You have a blog called ABC. You link to an image (or file) on a blog called XYZ using THEIR file location as your link. (http://xyz.blog.com/image.jpg) Hope that helps a little for those who didn't understand.

[Debbie Olson]

Beautifully stated, and I'm with you, Julie! Any chance you might be running for President in 2012? Just thinkin' ahead. . . ;-)

[Becky]

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS!!! If I may, I will probably end up linking this post in one of my posts. iti s VERY important that MANY people understand that this is not an OK thing to do. It also completely destroys readership in some aspects.