Web design - using source files from another Website

[Jayell]

Looking for some Web design help. I always though it was uncceptable to put a map on your Website (for instance) whose souce file is actually on another Website (Google Maps in this instance) .. NOT a link to. In otherwords, you're using their bandwidth. I always thought that was illegal .. but not sure if that's any different when it's Google Maps. Would appreciate any input on this.

[Steve Grisetti]

Well, Google's page seems to indicate it's both legal and free.
http://www.google.com/apis/maps/gallery ... =maps_home

[Jayell]

Thanks, Steve. Didn't think to go to their site to check it out.

[ed]

In general hot linking is frowned upon and not recommended. Google and others are a different in that they encourage you to use their widgets because that is how they get their revenue stream. If you manage you're own server settings you can disable hot linking for all or parts of your own site.

[Jayell]

Thanks, Ed. That was my thinking .. and I had a feeling Google was a different situation.