Edited at 2005/01/22 10:54:40 PST
It has come to my attention that a number of web sites (like, 50 of them, at least) have been stealing images from Fate of Io for display on their own sites. In particular, this image, by Gilgath, is very popular. Most of the offenders were weblogs. Some claimed to have created the image themselves. Others simply displayed the image to go along with some text. In all cases, they embedded the image by URL, meaning that fateofio.org's server was footing their bandwidth bill.
OK, it wasn't very much bandwidth, honestly. But it pisses me off. Why would people do this?
In any case, all of the offending sites are now displaying an annoying pop-up window whenever anyone views them, informing the viewer that the web site's author is a thief (example). In order to make this window appear, I had to tell my server to demand a username and password from anyone viewing the image. There is, in fact, no correct username and password, and even if you did enter correct info, all you'd get is a 404.0 The only purpose of the window is to display the message.
If people start using the image from its new location, I'll simply move it again, and the same thing will happen. Once the new server is running (Real Soon Now) we'll have more robust defenses against this, of course.
Anyway, I just thought I'd post this for all the people who are coming to the site wondering why their personal web site now displays this crazy message. To all said people: I hope you have learned your lesson.