I know this latest internet sensation is making it easier for bloggers to share ideas that they have found across the web. However, lately I have begun to be concerned about whether it is causing people to forget about bloggers' rights.
I have seen numerous posts now where a blogger will simply post one of her Pinterest boards as a convenient way to visually share a lot of ideas at once. Sometimes when I have clicked on an idea, I'm taken to another person's Pinterest board, then another, then another. If I stay interested long enough. I may make it back to the original blog post after half a dozen clicks.
Is it possible that sometimes bloggers are being deprived of traffic and/or credit that their ideas merit? Normally, I would not post a picture from another person's blog without his or her permission. Some may feel comfortable posting a picture, but not without a link to the source and appropriate credit given. But it is easy to forget that when it is so easy to "pin" it and share it.
What do you think? I'd like some open discussion about this. And what can be done about it? Do you think responsible pinning should include making sure anything you share contains direct links, not second or third-hand linking? Or do I as a blogger just need to make sure I watermark every single picture I post, and if I don't, it's my loss? (I don't know about the rest of you, but I find that blog posts with pictures are already pretty time-consuming. If I had to add a watermark to each one, I probably wouldn't have time to blog anymore. )
It seems like having that copyright statement in my sidebar or at the bottom of my blog is now pointless, because many of the people now seeing my pictures will never see my blog, and therefore will never see my copyright.
I could be wrong about all of this and it could be a great source for traffic. I saw a post on the Spoonflower boards about how to use pinterest to advertise. My analytics shows that I have gotten some traffic from there. Is anyone else getting a lot of incoming traffic from pinterest?
13 comments:
If you watermark your pictures they may not be pinned. I personally only pin visually attractive pictures with no watermarks as I feel watermarks takes away from the picture. Most of my pins are re-pins, but on the rare occasion I take a picture from a blog etc I always do add links. I'm not sure how you would go about your concerns, it may be a very time consuming job.
Good points, sadly I have no idea what to do about it :(
I have often wondered the same thing. I try to only include pins in posts when I pinned them directly from the source as opposed to repins. I also make sure to keep the test on the bottom of the pin that sources the photo.
The reality is though is that even if someone has never been to your site, your copyright still applies. It's common license, technically something is NOT copyable unless the owner has specified otherwise. No one should be using any images on their website unless they took the photo themselves or have permission from the author.
I actually wish pinterest would take away the ability to embed individual pins. I'm ok with whole boards, but it is the individual pins that are a problem as the code is easy to remove the text from and making stealing pictures very easy. If the photo was in a box like the embedded boards with a big pinterest logo it wouldn't be as appealing to just post one photo.
There is also the problem of people ignoring blogger requests to link to the post where downloads are provided instead of the downloads themselves. I've seen several pins that link to downloads directly and the blogger didn't cite her website in the footnotes so I have no idea where the resource came from. (Moral of the story- if you do downloads be sure your cite is clearly included in the download itself)
I think that what pinterest has probably done is make a problem that already existed more glaring. I have only cited pins a couple of times on my blog and I have had these exact thoughts every single time. Yet I love the ability to share things I find with my readers in a real time way.
I think the other issue with pinterest is that it takes away some creativity and could eventually lead to idea copyright problems. Creating a forum where say I have an individual idea, I didn't see it on pinterest but it was there and say a friend of mine had it pinned. I post my idea, and I have a wider audience so it gets more attention or publicity. Maybe I"m asked to guest post somewhere else or write a print article for a source. Maybe my idea is just featured somewhere. Someone new pins it and the original pinner gets upset and claims I stole her idea. In the end it comes down to my word against her and I would have to prove I had the idea first even though it was my original idea (that's how it works if 2 people apply to copyright identical ideas/concepts). She has the electronic paperwork and a reasonable argument that I could have seen her idea through a friend and all I have is my original post made after hers, which was pinned, just not picked up because she had a smaller audience. In our sue happy society she makes more off of me in small claims court than I made by my paid work initially.
That was long, but you do follow? I think the far bigger problem is ideas, not photographs and I have actually been more cautious about my post photos and ideas. I actually do have some ideas I am saving for individual direct sources instead of taking straight to my blog for that reason.
Thanks for all of the thoughts. I think you are right, Heidi, that it compounds an already existing problem. I think the best thing we can do is just remind people that these images/ideas are copyrighted, and now matter how the are shared, credit should be given.
As to your other scenario, I follow you. It reminds me of a different thread on the Spoonflower group. Someone saw other ideas like hers in one of the contests. I am not sure whether she was worried about someone stealing her ideas or she was worried that someone might think she stole her ideas, so again, an already existing possibility that may be made more prominent by it being easier to share ideas.
I love that the internet is all about sharing ideas. However, as a blogger and an artist, I also like to retain my rights.
I'm confused. On every single pin I have ever come across it says in the top right the original site it came from and if you click on the picture itself you will be taken to the original blog post.
Yes, people can and do "repin" something, but even the repin links directly back to the blogger's post. You could follow the links of where it was pinned from, but you don't have to.
I don't know if links will work in comments, but here is an image that explains where each pin will link right back to your site:
http://media10.dropshots.com/photos/365957/20111205/084424.jpg
I purposefully chose a pin that had been "repined" so you could see that even the repins link back.
Interesting. I actually like watermarks that tell me the name of the site, as long as they are not in the middle of the picture, but in the corner somewhere. It helps me to make sure I am giving credit where it is due.
I have never had a problem finding the original sourse on Pintrest. I do think that it may make it easier to steal an idea, but I think people will do that no matter where they find the picture! All we can do is be diligent in link back to ideas when we use them!
I also think that it depends on why you are blogging. For me, if an idea is used and pinned and not cited back to me, then I guess its not too big of a deal. I blog my memeories and the fun I have with my kids, not be the worlds biggest blog. So I guess that it all depends on how much it bothers you if your ideas are used.
Those are my thoughts! I think that this is another issue that is a part of technology driven world!
i actually find i get traffic from Pintrest.
If someone has pinned something from my blog then the actual blog is linked in the corner as someone else mentioned earlier. When i pin something it is because i want to refer back to the site and see the recipe, craft etc..... and even if i re-pin i need to go to the original post for instructions or details.
I haven't yet found any reason for it to be a problem although i do see your point!
I used to watermark but it became so time consuming I gave up. If someone is that desperate to steal my images good luck to them!!
My BIG frustration with pinterest is people not pininng correctly. For example I follow at least one person that always always pins the entire site, but shows the image of a specific blog post. On occasion I have spent several minutes searching for the actual post so I can repin it correctly often to no avail......very frustrating.
I guess if you are showing tutorials and the like on your blog you need to ensure that readers have to visit your blog to easily obtain the details. If everything is in one pinned picture then there is no need to visit your blog.
It hasn't changed the way I blog or visit blogs. It has only enhanced things for me personally. It is definitely the best bookmarking system I have ever come across.
In fact because of pinterest I have connected with loads more blogs than I would have previously.
Great discussion though :-)
Such good questions and comments!
I have come across pins that did not link to a sight but back to another pin, not sure how it happens. If it is something I really like I just search the web until I find it or something very similar and pin it correctly.
I also have found pins that link to the whole site like kylie mentioned. If I can find the post that has the photo in it I will make a new pin with the correct link.
I have gotten traffic from pins and am thankful for it. I also realize that everything on my site can be stolen. It is a fact that I am aware of and then post accordingly.
Although I do realize this is not always an option for those who are making money with there photos.
Lots of great discussion. Thanks for all the comments and explanations about how pinterest works.
I get tons of traffic from pinterest! A HUGE increase! Pinterest pins are linked to the blog they came from typically so they increase hits to that blog. If I share a board, I link to that board and people can follow individual pins to the sites they came from. I think it's a good thing.
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