Stealing Bandwidth
Let's explain what bandwidth is when you own a domain you have it
hosted, and you are given a certain amount of space to store files,
you are also given a certain amount of space for visitors a month.
It's the visitors that use bandwidth. It's called the "bandwidth"
band is the thickness of the pipe it's going through, and the width
of it tells you how much of that band you are using. Internet users
and cellphone users this can be called "Data Caps." Meaning the
amount of data you surf, email, etc a month is limited. The same
thing applies to websites. Let me explain simpler. Let's say a family is allocated 30GBs per month of bandwidth. That 30GB's is spread out for streaming, emailing, surfing, social media etc. Each time you do something on the internet you are downloading data IE bandwidth.
You don't want to go over your data usage as it could end up costing you extra money on your bill.
What does it mean to Steal Bandwidth?
To steal someone's bandwidth means to run off another one's
server, other than your own. Never link to an image or file on
someone else's server. Many demo sites get thousands of hits a
week. If a person gets 2000 visitors a day to their site and if only
1/10 of those visitors linked to just one file on that server, that
would be 200 people per day stealing bandwidth from them. In just
one month, that would be 6,000 people who have linked directly to a
Voice-over file, and even if they were all on low traffic sites that
only got 10 visitors a day, they would be paying for the bandwidth
of 60,000 hits a day for people that didn't even visit that site!
Add that up over a longer period of time - for one month it would be
1,800,000 hits. That doesn't even take into account the people that
link to other people's voice-over files in email. You can see why
sites shut down because of the high cost of popularity. It's just
not fair for anyone to expect us, the people who provide demos for
everyone's enjoyment and benefit, to pay money out of our pocket for
illegal linking because someone is too lazy to learn or to be
bothered to do things right.
Stealing Bandwidth is Illegal. People don't realize how
easily they can be caught stealing bandwidth and images. Each time a
file is called from the server, it is recorded in what is called a
log file. If you link to a file on someone else's server, it records
the web site that the file is called from, so if you link illegally
to someone else's files, each time your page is accessed by anyone,
that is recorded. You may think if you signed up with a free host
you can get away with it. Perhaps you used a fictitious name and
address when you signed up and used a free email account too. It
doesn't matter. Every time you send an email; create, modify or add
to a web site, your IP address is recorded by your ISP. Your IP
address can easily be tracked to your ISP, who has logs of which
account has used which IP address and on what dates. You are never
completely anonymous on the Internet. These are the same files the
FBI uses to catch child pornographers, hackers, and other nefarious
types.
In conclusion, the law states: Log files are considered legal
evidence and you can be sued for stealing bandwidth (or
copyrighted property for that matter). Damages are awarded up to
$100,000 plus proven costs. Proof of monetary loss isn't necessary
for damages to be awarded.
Another thing I would like to explain, to the many who are not
sure what all this means. Sharing links via emails, linking back
and/or saving a link to your favorite site does NOT constitute as
bandwidth theft. All of that is perfectly legal & OK to do.
I have noticed many of you email me wondering if what they are
doing is correct. Don't worry. You can share as many sites as you
like as well as save them in your favorites. That's why we create
pages. We want you to enjoy them. In my opinion, if one doesn't know
about "direct linking" or doesn't know HTML, chances are you are NOT
doing it.
Many of us who pay for our servers to host our sites sometimes
pay extra for "others" who run off our servers. That is why we get
upset. I do NOT think it is right that I or anyone else should have
to pay for your pretty emails or web pages as well when you link
directly to my files. There are many FREE servers the Internet
offers. Stealing Bandwidth is no different than someone who
illegally hooks up to your phone line, calls all over the world &
you get stuck paying for their conversations. So please, on behalf
of me & many others who have sites, free or paid for, DO NOT link
directly to our files. Thank You =o)
Those of you who are thinking about linking directly to my
graphics & running off MY server think about this...
This server allows me to see exactly where my hits are coming
from. It also tells me where my files are being pulled from. Every
day I check these stats. Not because I care about my hits, but
because I want to see who is STEALING MY BANDWIDTH. Recently I have
decided to do something other than report these people. All I can
say is if you think the voice files you are linking too are the
voice-over files people are hearing when they view your site or
email GUESS AGAIN & if I haven't gotten to certain ones, rest
assured I will! It can be quite embarrassing to have people hear a
page stating you're a "thief"
I feel this is a fair warning to those who do this. If all this
does not work the next step is to send the information to my server,
where I have been told legal action can be taken. They can also shut
you down & you can lose your ISP forever.
Now I ask you... Still plan on linking directly to my voice
files?? I am not the only one with this problem & I feel anyone who
creates demos for you to enjoy, you have an obligation out of
respect to those people who take the time to create these files NOT
to do this.
There is no excuse for those who do this. If in doubt ask or
research the correct way on how to add a download to your hard
drive. All of us who create demos and/or make web sites will be more
than happy to explain what is right & wrong. Everyone has terms,
some are different, but WE ALL ask that you DO NOT link directly to
our files.
Those of you who do the right thing; I thank you & appreciate you
using my voice files.
This page was inspired by
http://www.phenomenalwomen.com:80/donteventhinkaboutit/ Sadly
her site is no longer active but the page is archived and brilliant!
Copyright © 2000
, Amy Lynn's Voice-Overs. All rights reserved.
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