I'm pretty certain the rumblings over Pinterest haven't escaped you.......but do you know what its all about? Thanks to Claire and knitsofacto I have been given a heads up..and its got me a touch concerned about what is good and not so..
You see I've been very guilty of not reading the small print when I began pinning on Pinterest with glee, and while I made an effort to source the right credits I did not seek individual permission to pin the images....and for this I can only apologise.
Because.....and this is where the crunch comes in.... by doing so I'm effectively handing over the images I pin to the owners of Pinterest (Cold Brew Labs) to do with what they wish... whether they are of my own artwork or others.
This is taken from the Pinterest "Terms of use" small print...
" By making available any Member Content through the Site, Application or Services, you hereby grant to Cold Brew Labs a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit such Member Content only on, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services...."
Gulp!
Yes you can argue in all kinds of ways the benefits of pinterest and the unlikelihood of foul play... but doesn't the above statement set your belly a lurching?.... It sure does mine....
So I've deleted my pinterest account and am now standing with my tail between my legs......now to go and read the small print of every other "terms and conditions" that I nonchalantly ticked without actually ever reading.....
i am probably naive, but i can't help but think this is something not to worry about because it's definetely not something that can be controlled. at least not yet. the www truly is the wild wild west.
ReplyDeletethe nature of the internet means that there can not truly be a copywrite or protection of images. images are taken every second, with or without a copywrite.
my husband, who has been a professional photographer for over 20 years, will sometimes do a google search and will invairably find a photo here and there used illegaly. we have had to take a 'throw up our hands' approach since first, the image has already been used and we don't have the means (or time) to hire legal help for each and every image stolen.
this stirs up a whole pot of personal responsibility and doing the right thing. i agree it's wrong for pinterest to use images as their own, when the rights clearly belong to others. but to me it's like trying to push back the incoming tide with a small broom.
i discovered not too long ago a page on pinterest (i don't have an account, and haven't ever been) but anyway, the page was of my photos. apparently pinned. out of the many there, i know only one person asked my permission to use it (which is what prompted the search). even though i have that disclaimer on my blog, like everyone else.
and here again,i'm showing my naievete (sp?) and truly just feel flattered that someone liked a photo of mine. (all were linked back to me which may have something to do with my feelings).
i think the bottom line is to give credit where credit is due. maybe someone can start up an honest pinterest? and i'm so sorry you had to delete your account, when you enjoyed it so.
xx lori
Thankyou for your thoughtful comment Lori Ann...
DeleteI especially love the "wild wild west" take :)
too true..and yes I agree with the huge tide..Pinterest is just a tiny fish in a large ocean when it comes to protecting artwork and images...
and there are so many benefits that come from internet exposure.
I would certainly agree it is a compliment when someone likes your work and thinks highly enough to feature it (anywhere on the net).I have to say that nothing feels better!
It's not the intention behind the pinning or the people doing it..what gets me is Pinterest itself...the organisation where they have decide to claim "ownership" of all images in the small print..I just don't get why?
Deleting my account with Pinterest sounds a bit extreme..but it was a quick and easy decision...I only used it from time to time and I'm now back to cutting and sticking inspirations into my journal!!(as I've done for many years before!)
Love your idea of an "honest pinterest" ! and yes definitely agree with credit where its due :)x
Wow that is something to think about. I had no idea about the 'small print', I too failed to read it properly, it seems very sneaky and underhand to include such terms in their terms of use.
ReplyDeleteI will go and check through all of my pins to see that they are credited to their original source. I have never added a new pin to the site, and probably won't now.
I came across some of my own images on there and felt both flattered and a bit miffed that nobody had asked my permission to 'take' them, or even comment that they liked my work.
I have often thought that it was a place of all style and no content. It's beginning to leave a bitter taste.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I hadn't come across the discussion anywhere else. x
Hey Colette,
DeleteI have to agree with the slight bitter taste."Informed consent" has been embedded in me from being a midwife, and I'm so aware that this is sorely lacking..most "pinners" are like me and completely oblivious of the implications of pinning other people's artwork and images, especially without permission.
I feel like the easiest way for me to respect other people and their art is by opting out...
Hugs to you x
Hmmm...interesting! I see how the quoted Terms of Use could ruffle many feathers; however, when I read it, I understood it to be written as such to protect them from lawsuits of content being pinned. I think this part, & especially, the 2nd sentence are very key in understanding what they mean, in my opinion, anyway. (caps are mine):
ReplyDelete"and otherwise exploit such Member Content ONLY ON, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services. Cold Brew Labs DOES NOT claim any ownership rights in any such Member Content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit any such Member Content.
I'm not a lawyer, or expert by any means. :) I wonder, if perhaps, someone ought to just email Pinterest, & ask to have it explained in layman's terms. That way, one would have a more informed picture of what their intentions are. It's really difficult for me to think that w/ all the millions of members & even more pins, that they would even have the time or inkling to pursue profiting from one's pins; especially, since they state they do not claim ownership rights. I could be wrong, too.
Anyway, w/ all that said, I respect your feelings, & will remove the Joy Journal Tutorial that I pinned, awhile back, directly from your website; unless, of course, you give me permission to leave it pinned. Just let me know either way...it's all good! :)
I've, also, included this link from Pinterest's blog: http://blog.pinterest.com/ as it gives you the code to add to your website to block people from pinning your pictures w/o permission. It's just a bit down the page, under Monday's 2.20.12 ~ Growing Up post.
In kindness...many gorgeous blessings! ~H♥~
Hi Heather,
DeleteThanks for your comment!
There's a really interesting article
http://greekgeek.hubpages.com/hub/Is-Pinterest-a-Haven-for-Copyright-Violations
that explains everything rather well (alot better than me!) and why its a concern..the biggest point being about gaining permission from the people images are being taken from. And that they do make money from the pins...though thankfully not directly from the art work but rather something to do with "skim links" (which is way over my head!)
Pinterest have responded to the recent "controversies" by providing this code..which is a a good solution...just need to find someone with a computer savvy brain to assist me!
Without wanting to sound like the Queen! Permission granted...
Photos of my journals I am ok with..its more the scanned images of my paintings..which I notice a few have turned up there...and have yet to be asked permission!
Have a wonderful weekend x
Ahhh...thank you for replying...that's the thing w/ perception & understanding, we don't all perceive/understand things in the same way. :) I will certainly read the article you have recommended. I'm not sure what "skim links" are myself, though...will have to read into that.
Delete:/ Bummer...didn't realize it would be such a challenge to use the code. I question why it isn't a much simpler process...but then, I'm not computer savvy myself. It will be interesting to see how all this goes on Pinterest...
Thank you for your kindness, Jenny! That makes complete sense about your paintings!
Enjoy a wonderful weekend yourself! ~H♥~
I am guilty of not reading the fine print too. Will take more notice in the future.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteOh Jenny,
I have to start off with a big fat apology - I'm so sorry, I have deleted the pin of your beautiful print that is in my living room. Actually, I have deleted the whole board of artwork that hangs on my walls... I always made sure to give the artist credit and link back directly to their site, but it's good to know that isn't all that needs to be done.
Thank you for pointing out this fine print... It looks like it's time for me to get down to business and start some serious reading.
I hope you're having a wonderful weekend :)
xo
Kristin
Thank you for the mention :D
ReplyDeleteI think if anything the more I read the more confused I become. So I'm holding on to certain things that do seem clear. Pinterest is only able to claim rights to pinned images because all pinners are assumed to be posting stuff they hold the copyright to, stuff that is out of copyright, or stuff that they have sought permission from the copyright holder to post. It is surely then up to Pinterest to make sure that pinners are aware of this, not hide it two clicks in to the small print that we all know few bother to read. For myself I'm mostly quite happy for my stuff to be pinned and shared, but I'd like it to be credited back to me. And I'd like to have the right to remove my images completely from Pinterest if I choose and just now I don't have that, I can remove the original pin, but all the repins are still out there waiting to be pinned again. It's a mess. I agree with Lori Ann that copyright theft is inevitable but I don't think that means we should just accept something that actually encourages it and makes it so easy.
It's great that the debate is continuing though, hopefully a solution will be found :D