MOD What is a Hotlink and What You Need to Know

What exactly is hotlinking and why you should not do it.

A hotlink is when you use a direct link to another page for an image. You should not copy and paste the image, that is also a hotlink.

It’s simple, if you did not save the image on your computer (tablet, or phone), and then upload that image to a hosting site, then it’s a hotlink.

Why is using a hotlink bad?

If you link from any site, someone has the capability to change the image. On places like Wikipedia, anyone can change the image and you could end up with linked pornography.



This brings us to why it is a rule listed in our TOS:



13. Please do not direct-link to any photos that aren't a) hosted on your own storage or b) from a major site (HuffPo, CNN.com) or c) from another site that's said it's okay (e.g. a dedicated picture site). Bandwidth leeching can happen, so please respect the smaller sites by linking via the url feature rather than the img feature. Direct linking URL's are always fine, so long as they conform with the other rules of the Jedi Council. (NOTE: Online comic sites [e.g. Dilbert, Penny Arcade, etc.] prefer links to the whole comic page, rather than just the comic itself.) And, as always, please remember that you are responsible for your own image linkings if the pics get switched on you. The JC Administration reserves the right to remove image links upon request from the owner of a linked site.

How can I post without using hotlinks?

There are many free hosting sites that are simple to use. One suggestion is listed here in this Comms thread.

Adding one step protects you from posting a hotlink. You are just getting a unique URL from a site where you have an account, one that hosts the image that you are certain is within our TOS.

The managers of this board are always happy to answer any questions you might have via private message.



Thank you for not hotlinking!