When Pinterest first appeared and everyone jumped on board, I did too. I had so much fun pinning recipes, crafting ideas, home decor, tv shows, movies, music, etc. It was a fun place to keep track of everything I loved, and everything I wanted to do some day.
Then came the posts about there being copyright issues with Pinterest and I became worried. I figured all it would take is one upset person to sue me over pinning something that was innocently pinned by me. I read quite a few posts and decided that it was best to just delete my Pinterest account. In hindsight I wish I had just deleted the boards instead of the whole account, or just kept my account for my own pictures, but ultimately I just wanted out.
My concerns with Pinterest:
1. Even if a photo is on a website or blog and they have a “Pin It” button, it doesn’t mean that they have permission for others to pin something. A trend with bloggers is to do round-up posts where they they use pictures from who knows where. I personally have no idea if they have permission to use some of these photos, so if I pin them, I could be liable and possibly sued. No thank you.
2. What if a blogger bought a photo from iStock or another photo site and used that photo in a blog post. I decide to pin it (since there is a “pin it” button on their post). Couldn’t iStock come after ME for posting a photo that I didn’t purchase?
3. There are so many big brands (and small ones too!) that are very particular about what photos can be used from their site (especially in blog posts). So what if I pin a photo from their website and they aren’t okay with it? Sure, it is promoting them, but their legal teams do keep an eye out for things like this.
I have to admit that I really, really miss Pinterest. The risk just didn’t seem worth it to me. Unfortunately a lot of campaigns now want bloggers to use Pinterest and this puts me at a disadvantage in some cases. I do feel like I made the right decision though.
I have actually send a request to rejoin (to only use my own photos), but that was weeks ago. I haven’t heard a word, so I assume I’m done with Pinterest for good.
Do you still have a Pinterest account? Do the copyright issues worry you?
16 Responses
I’m not worried at the moment… I think that f there were ever an issue with me personally, I’m hoping that I’d be sent a cease and desist before things get ugly. I guess I’m certainly taking my chances though. 🙁
I deleted all my boards and started over, using only photos I know I have permission to use, and making sure the description is the link, even if it’s already in there. It’s a pain, and not much fun, so I hardly use it anymore. It’s too bad.
I kept my account, but deleted everything but my own content unless a brand asks me to pin something as part of a post. Then I’ll do that too, but beyond that, I don’t even use it.
It was a big time sucker…I admit that! I would just rather be safe than sorry.
I commented about the photo rights of pins right away to another blogger. Not been much on the Pinterest kick because of it. Photography is art and I imagine people can get their art “stolen” in this way. Innocent enough but some people WILL manipulate and use others props. I worried more about personal pictures being sent out more than any money or infringement. I do love the IDEA of Pinterest but I don’t have the time to daydream…if I started I know I would soon become addicted and become a Pin Pig and my house a Pin Pig Pen;) Gonna just see how this plays out in the next few months or so…
I am still pinning and I love it. I am creating campaigns too for brands so I see the use big time and love it. However I pin with a bit of caution and I don`t like those roundup posts. I so get what you mean. They seem too iffy, because often they are just a roundup with no proper credit or links back. That makes me nervous too.
Paula
Yeah these are the ones that worry me the most. I mean I could just NOT pin them I suppose, but really who knows where any photos come from on any website? I’m glad you are being cautious.
Yes! I don’t know why people pin giveaways…it drives me nuts! I think it’s going to turn into one big promotional billboard soon instead of it’s intended use and that disturbs me.
I do have a Pinterest account and I do, personally, worry about copyrights and being chased after if someone happens to be upset about something like you referred to in your above post, but I personally thing it’s worth it.
I’ve met so many wonderful, kind people and I’m assuming that if someone was unhappy, they would contact me directly to which I would have no issue removing a picture, post, etc. Hopefully I’m not making an ass out of you and me by saying that though o.O
I also try to be mindful of what I’m pinning and make sure I give credit where credit is due in the information section of my pin. It just seems like the right thing to do.
I really hope you get invited back, though! It is a really fun site!
I still have Pinterest and I love it when it’s used correctly. I admit that in the beginning I more than likely pinned some things I shouldn’t have. I’ve since learned what is appropriate and mostly pin recipes and crafts. I don’t care for giveaway pins but I have done a few for brands that have asked. I don’t know what to think of Pinterest anymore though. With all of the scams that are going around on it, I sometimes wonder if it’s worth it! But then I browse through all of the recipes I’ve collected on there and know I could never delete it!
I know…and I SO miss the recipes I had pinned! I really did love it and had so many wonderful things pinned for future use. I am currently trying to reactivate my account, so we shall see what happens.
Of course, now that I did that, I am hearing of more and more scams!
I also may have pinned some things I shouldn’t have not knowing at first then I read an article about pinterest having copyrights to anything pinned and posted on my first board that Pinterest had no copyrights of anything I pin. I then stopped pinning for a while. I then read an article that if someone does not want any items pinned they can actually control that by their setting and not allow anyone to pin anything from their site. Then I also see when some post pictures they actually put their web site name or their name across the picture somewhere and If I see that then to me that tells me they don’t want that shared any where and I will not pin. For an example if you go to facebook your pin will not work there. I am now pinning and hope I’m not pinning something I shouldn’t. It’s a lot of fun and I pin mainly to show others what I like. I do the nifty ideas or crafts to try at home. I do not sell or make any money from this so I hope I’m not legally doing anything I shouldn’t. If I have pinned anything I shouldn’t all the person would have to do is ask me to remove it and I would definitely do so. To me this is all in fun and I would hate to make someone upset or mad. With all that said Yes I’m still pinning.
I agree, I would hope that an upset person would contact you first. That makes sense to me, however you know how people can be.
Happy pinning!
this has been an eye-opener for me about pinterest. And yet as someone who thinks its great that some people earn royalties off their stock photo submissions, I definitely see the danger in allowing what pinterest has without forseeing issues.
Yikes! That is a scary thought with copyright laws, but mine always link back directly to the website where it originated from. If I got it from a blog and they stole it from somewhere without consent then I can see problems arising, however, I can’t spend countless hours verifying whether or not the picture someone has on their blog they own the rights to.
I can see how people could misuse going to photography sites and downloading pics and trying to pass them off as their own, or say, a blog writing an article about genital warts and using my picture without consent or compensation. But a “like” board (which is essentially what Pinterest is) is pretty minuscule on copyright “infringement” especially if it leads back to the site that owns the material you pinned.
I love Pintrest and I use it everyday. Now, since it is a new social media, I am not worried about individuals who pin or blogs who pin because it’s hard to prove that it wasn’t copied 100 times and 90 people got it from a different original source.