There was a blogging conference held in LA this week (no, I didn't go). Some of the discussion focused on the online corkboard website, Pinterest -- specifically, the theft of copyright and intellectural infringement.
For those of you who don't know, Pinterest is a site you can "pin" various images of what inspires you - from home design to recipes to fashion. You can create separate themed boards. For example, I have boards on everything from future vacations I'd like to take to food to steampunk design.
But it avoids one glaring issue -- unless each of us have permission, many of these photos are copyrighted...and that's a problem, specifically a "you used my image without permission and I have a good case to sue you" problem.
On one hand, we have the younger generation used to the web. They don't understand why folks, specifically photographers, who make their life's work getting paid for their images, would want to sue. "It's on the Web, they must want to share!" they cry.
There's people like me, who find the creativeness of the site a real inspiration, but understand a bit about fair use and crediting the original source -- even if it may not help in a lawsuit. There are manufacturers and crafters and artists thrilled to have the online attention directed their way.
Then there are others, who understand the terms and are removing themselves from Pinterest entirely.
I'll break it down here as best as I can understand and you can do your own research:
- All photos you use should be either your own or you have full permission to pin
- You can use images you own, but you can't self-promote. Um, hello? *scratches head*
- If someone sues because you used the image, they sue you, not Pinterest.
- What's more, if you are being sued, you have to pay for both your court costs and Pinterests (nice one, Pinterest).
There are other terms in there about how Pinterest can use your photos for something but disavow all responsibility.
Here are a couple of links here:
- Pinterest and the Intellectual Property, Virgina DeBolt
- Why I tearfully deleted my Pinterest boards, Kirsten at DDKPortraits (with FB thanks to Paul Anater)
- Edited to add: Pinterest may lead to tears (and even a lawsuit), via TheSpec.com. The legal pundits weigh in...
My thinking is that Pinterest is going to have to either restructure itself or it will implode in some way. For now, I'm going to see how this shakes out. If the terms don't change soon, I'll be (sadly) deleting my boards. I'm wary enough that I don't want to add any more images for the short-term.
Edited to add: We discuss this a bit further in the comments...
