Saturday, May 19, 2012

ARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS BEING USED ON PINTEREST WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION?



An old fashioned pin board

Yesterday, I put a post on about Pinterest and their users that are involved with the illegal practice of using images without the permission of the owner. 


Pinterest claims that once a person posts (or pins to a Pinterest bulletin board)  it becomes their property. 


Legally all images created by you are your intellectual property. No one can take that away from you. But now it seems that Pinterest, using a third party (the pinners of sites with Pinterest), believe they can take it from you with no impunity.


Anyway if my words above seem a bit confusing I have found an excellent article on this very subject. It is well worth your time to read if you are either a Pinterest member or anyone that puts images on the web such as G+, Facebook, Blogspot, or like media.


Here is the link that explains this mess in human terms. 
Pinterest -- Copyright Infringement Made Cool, by Bob Vishneski

8 comments:

  1. I notice that artist Marja-Leena Rathje posts photos but not enlargements. So it is not possible for anyone to see her work online except at low resolution. I've bought her full size photos and there is certainly a qualitative difference there that I am willing to pay for.
    I'm not sure this "sharing" trend can be stopped, since once it's out there on the Internet, it's fair game. That's the way the Internet is set up. Either we start restricting and censoring, which does not seem to work, or we leave all the doors open.
    I never post photos of my grandkids' faces, for instance, not even on Facebook any more, for the reason that I don't think they are public property. I think it's up to us, the users, to keep stuff off the Internet that we do not want to share with the world. I don't see how the matter could be dealt with legally.
    However, it is a dilemma, and I can appreciate how ripped off you feel.

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  2. Hattie -- yes that is the nature of internet -- to share photos. Yes, you are right -- it is up to us to keep stuff off the Internet that we do not want to share. You express my feelings completely. I am taking off the summer to work on some special projects. May you have a delightful summer -- barbara

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  3. That's an excellent point Hattie has made. It seems to be the crux of the issue, and I need to keep it in mind when I share my own photos.

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    1. Teresa -- Yes, I do agree with Hattie too. My initial reaction to piracy was, "they can't do that." When I settled down, I realized that they can so I will be more aware of what I put on the web. I think it is good for all of us to have this discussion about piracy. -- barbara

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  4. I do wish you luck with your summer project! I will keep you on my blogroll and check over here from time to time.

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    1. Hattie -- I will be reading your posts throughout the summer. You have a great summer in your beautiful state. -- barbara

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  5. Hi Barbara, I love that unique photo you posted from the Library of Congress. The New York City Municipal Archives has now posted digitally over 8,000 photos of New York City archive photos from the 1800's forward to present. They posted some preview photos and there is a website but it is so jammed you cannnot get through. I will look up the website for you and send you a link if you are interested, since you use Library of Congress photos, maybe you would be interested in these fascinating, ancient New York City photos of life in the streets and businesses in the 1800's. Hope you have a great summer with your new project and that you post for us some of your great photos from time to time. Looking forward to your project blogs. Have a great summer.
    Nanette
    Tucson, Arizona

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    1. Nanette -- I certainly would appreciate the New York City photos archive link. Thanks. I might be getting a new Canon Rebel within the next few months and if I do I will post a few photos this summer. Again thanks for keeping me in mind for old photo archives. Have a really good summer -- barbara

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