After resisting the Pinterest trend for a while I decided to finally check it out the other day. I was kind of shocked to see so many of my own images on the site. At first I was flattered, hey it's always nice when someone likes something you've photographed or blogged about. So I signed up to be part of it thinking I could use it to promote my Etsy shops.
Then I read this article and I urge you to read it too. Basically any content loaded on to Pinterest becomes theirs to exploit. They are forever allowed to sell, transfer, alter, exploit, license and otherwise use YOUR photos. Oh, and if you've never uploaded a photo there and someone else who saw it on your blog or site did well tough luck. The fine print at Pinterest states if you uploaded it, you take ownership and therefore agree to let them use it how they see fit. Whenever you pin someone else's images you are agreeing for them.
This is unacceptable. I have installed a code on this blog that prohibits content from being pinned (Find it here). I urge you to do the same on your own blogs and sites.
I would also like to ask that if you are a member you think twice about these policies and read the fine print. Also if you have any images from this blog I ask that you delete them immediately.
you are right - but facebook has the same conditions and you have a facebook button on your site...
ReplyDeleteIt's true Facebook's privacy policies aren't that much better. However I don't upload pictures to the blog's Facebook account.
ReplyDeleteThis has been an interesting debate to watch unfold. I somehow missed the (Pintrest) boat, so it hasn't become too personal, but I am definitely considering that prohibiting code you posted. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteHmm. I read the TOS, and I interpret it differently. First, there's Pinterest content and Member Content. The stuff you're concerned about is Member Content. The only rights that Pinterest's TOS licenses is "only on, through or by means of the site, application or services." It is specifically and explicitly restricted. (The term "services" is also specifically defined as "online service that allows users to create, view and follow visual collections" through the web site and the Pinterest mobile application.)
ReplyDeletePinning a photo does not grant a license to use your photos in any way they choose. They can't make t-shirts of it, or publish a book, for example.
I think the article you linked to is misleading, so I encourage you to read the TOS if you haven't already.
Of course, I could be totally wrong in my interpretation. I'm no lawyer (but clearly neither is the author of the article).
So, if your sole concern is maintaining your rights, then I urge you to reconsider banning Pinterest. I've found lots of interesting bloggers via Pinterest and I'd hate to think that others will miss your great site.
If your concern extends to the ethics of site-scraping web sites, then that's another discussion. Personally, I'm not a big fan of site-scrapers, but Pinterest seems to trying to create a culture where it's done right (emphasis on proper attribution and quality additional content). Their quick addition of the "no pin" code does them credit. (However, speaking as a web designer, it is a poor implementation of a good idea.)
Regardless of what you decide, I'll still follow your blog.
The thing about TOS's are that they are all a bit tricky aren't they?
DeleteI really appreciate your comment. I was hesitant to give into Pinterest in the first place and now it's all a tad muddy and I'm not sure it's something I want to be part of. I realize I may miss out some things but honestly it's one less social media time suck for me to engage in.
Anything that brings people together in a positive way is fine by me but maybe I'm being paranoid and jaded when I say this but I have a hard time trusting a large corporation's motives.
There's been a lot of hand-wringing across the internet regarding the Pinterest TOS and I honestly think it's an overreaction. If every image pinned truly became the property of Pinterest, you can bet magazines like Elle Decor and Marie Claire would not be members! Nor would companies like Anthropologie and Pottery Barn. The real large corporations (Pinterest is actually pretty small) are DEFINITELY not relinquishing the rights to their materials.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that the code you uploaded won't allow people to pin things that link automatically back to your site, but what's to stop someone from using a screen capture? And THAT most likely won't be attributed correctly or direct viewers back to your blog. So not only are you missing out on lots of potential extra traffic, you may actually be increasing the odds that your materials won't be attributed to you.
I understand your position, but I hope you will reconsider. I had never heard of your blog until now. I followed a pin on Pinterest to Sophia's Sweet Spot then through to a link to this article. Nice blog, by the way. :)
ReplyDeleteIf someone wanted to pin an image from your blog to Pinterest, they can save the image then upload it or, as Kari said, do a screenshot and upload that. Either way, you would not be linked to the image and it can then be repinned over and over, still never showing its origin. Since you can't force a Pinterest user to remove a pin, you would be kind of out of luck.
I'd rather see you get credit for your work and gain more legitimate traffic.
Just my 2 cents... :)
just my two cents...traffic to my blog and shop come from pinterest at such a high rate that i would be crazy to stop that. my last rash of sales was exclusively because someone pinned my poster. and people steal pictures with or without pinterest. at least with pinterest you are way more likely to get credit or a proper link back. if you prevent pinning, you're just forcing people to save your images then later use them or blog them with a flippant "i can't remember where i found this!" that bugs me so much, and i think pinterest has gone a long way to at least leaving a trail to find sources.
ReplyDeleteI've given it some thought and while I won't be joining I did take down the do not pin code. I suppose proper credit from a website I don't really love all that much is better than none at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post ! I'm not a member of Pinterest, but obviously have heard a lot about it. Mostly good things, so your post gives an interesting perspective ! And definitely makes me think twice about joining :-)
ReplyDeleteAs I'm neither a business owner, nor a professional blogger, I don't really care about generating traffic from social media websites. So I tend to agree when you say that Pinterest is yet another time suck.