psyko514, i already have found information on the web with regards to linking/hotlinking. from what i've read, the case is far from clear. i'm asking people to point me to something that IS clear.
for your reference:
the linking controversy
http://www.jura.uni-tuebingen.de/~s-bes1/lcp.html
i would personally refer to ban hotlinking. as i said, i don't like it either. but i refuse to enforce my personal *morals* on my users. what i *will* enforce is legal restrictions.