As with any avid pinner, I can pin about at the rate of 10-30 pins per minute. Seriously. I have grand schemes of DIY that would last two lifetimes, more clothes on the wish list than ‘Kimye’ could afford and yet I keep pinning. And at the enviable speed in which I can pin, I’m not sure anyone could pay attention to the origin of the pins as they troll through their feed. We just pin and dream.
That is, until I received an email notice from Pinterest this morning that said that one of my pins had been removed because the owner of the image had submitted a complaint to Pinterest about their image being used on the social network. While it wasn’t a legal issue (at least for me as I was one of many repinners), it still raised my brow as I thought about all of the IP (intellectual property) rules that Pinterest dances around.
Think about it – you spend months planning your collection photo shoots. You get the theme, the talent, the photographer, the wardrobe, the models and then you spend a hot and sweaty day creating your masterpiece. You want to share it on your website and social networks because it showcases your talent, right? Now, I ask you, would you mind if someone pinned that image and it made it’s way around the web? You may or may not, and that’s a personal preference, but it’s something to think about. Once it hits the web, it’s fair game unless you keep your eye out. Even watermarks aren’t foolproof as a way to safeguard your IP.
What do you think? How do you feel about your images being pinned and shared around the web?
Author Bio: Valorie Reavis
Social Marketer, foodie, closet geekA marketing professional who has focused primarily on the hair and beauty business for of the past decade, Valorie now runs linkup marketing, a digital marketing agency for the hair and beauty professional. Valorie works to engage clients in the marketing process and help them successfully engage with their clients and community. Energetic and passionate about the industry, Valorie focuses on blending traditional and digital media in order to bring salons closer to their clients.
