Gabriel Wicke <groups@...> writes:
No more image bandwidth used by the following sites: # image theft acls acl imgurl urlpath_regex -i .(jpg|gif|png)$ acl badimgref referer_regex -i wikipedia.t-st.de acl badimgref referer_regex -i worldhistory.com acl badimgref referer_regex -i yourencyclopedia.net acl badimgref referer_regex -i wordiq.com acl badimgref referer_regex -i artpolitic.org acl badimgref referer_regex -i ruv.net # deny access
Mr. Wicke,
I speak only for WorldHistory.com in making the following comments and posing the following questions, but I suspect our situation is common to most or all of the sites you have labeled "bandwidth thieves."
Comments:
First, please note that WorldHistory.com would like to continue mirroring wikipedia content, but that content has considerably less appeal without the images.
Second, please note that we linked directly to images at wikipedia's site not in an effort to steal bandwidth, but out of respect for your bandwidth. It seemed -- and to me still seems, I must confess -- a very respectful alternative to trying to spider all the images. After considerable exploration, we were able to find no available alternative at Wikipedia for obtaining images, and no clearly defined contact for making inquiries.
Questions:
PhatNav.com apparently has its own copy of all the images. By what mechanism might such a copy be obtained and regularly updated by others?
de.freepedia.org links to wikipedia images in the same way WorldHistory.com does. Have they made some special arrangement to avoid being blocked? If so, what arrangements might the rest of us make? Whom should one contact to discuss such arrangements?
Is there a downloadable archive of images in the immediate future?
Thank you for your consideration. If you would prefer to discuss any of this privately, please e-mail me at DavidRodeback@att.net, and I will be happy to discuss this by e-mail or to telephone you.
David Rodeback Technical Officer WorldHistory.com