When it comes to copyright, Pinterest is a contentious topic, but the site is doing everything it can to safeguard artists. You can help by being cautious while pinning or utilizing photographs.
Understanding how copyright works on Pinterest is a smart first step to how to avoid Copyright Infringement on Pinterest. Then you must learn to recognize red flags and how to ensure that your actions are legal. You are less likely to get into trouble if you put out the effort.
You’ll discover more about Pinterest’s copyright policy and how to avoid breaking it in this post.
The Copyright Policies of Pinterest
Copyright violation is taken extremely seriously by Pinterest. It responds fast to creator concerns and does so in compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act [PDF link], which was passed in 1998.
Unless you give someone explicit permission, only you have the right to use the art you upload on Pinterest outside of the social network.
You can block users on Pinterest and prevent them from repinning your work. You can also report a pin that infringes on your copyright. People are able to share your photographs outside of the group if they want to.
If you pin artwork without permission and the owner discovers it, they have the right to have your post removed from Pinterest. If you repeatedly breach copyright, the platform may restrict your pinning privileges or possibly terminate your account.
Outside of Pinterest, the ramifications of violating copyright laws can be far more severe. At the absolute least, learning the regulations and modifying your practices can save you from significant fines.
Copyright Tips for Pinning Images on Pinterest
After reading the preceding part, you should have a better understanding of how to safeguard your art on Pinterest and avoid stealing from others unintentionally. Here are some helpful hints for pinning photographs on Pinterest without breaking the platform’s rules
Using External Sources to Pin
If you come across an image or piece of material you enjoy on the internet, see if the website already has Pinterest buttons. If it does, go ahead and pin it, but remember to credit the original creator. Some will even instruct you on how to properly credit them.
Don’t pin anything if there aren’t any sharing buttons available, especially for other social media. To use anything from a site like this lawfully, you must first contact the owner and obtain permission.
Remember that even if you have permission, you may be limited in what you can do with the image, such as not being able to change it.
In either case, you’ll have to provide credit to the original owner. On Pinterest, the most common approach to accomplish this is to acknowledge the artist in the post’s description and include a link to their website, if one exists.
Last but not least, you can create content with free-to-use photos. Before looking for the CC logo on photos, learn about Creative Commons and non-commercial content. It’s also fine to utilize old public domain photos without (or with some) attribution.
Pinterest repinning
You can repin a creator’s art on your Pinterest profile unless they block you or explicitly say that their photographs are not for sharing in any form. However, just to be cautious, you should mention their profile and website and include a link to it while you’re doing it.
It’s important to remember that other users can make copyright mistakes as well. Check the details of each post before repinning it. You can also perform an image search if necessary to ensure that everything is safe to post.
Ask yourself the following questions when repinning stuff on Pinterest:
- What was the source of the image?
- Was the photo legally pinned?
- Is there anyone who owns the rights to this image?
- Is there an attribution visible on the Pinterest post?
Basically, do everything you can to avoid infringing on someone else’s copyright. If it belongs to someone and the person who first pinned it hasn’t credited them, you can acquire permission by contacting the original creator.
Only the owner or an authorized person can file a complaint under Pinterest’s copyright policies. If you find copyright infringement in someone else’s work, you can go above and beyond and tell the artist. That person can then take legal action against the user.
Copyright Tips for Using Pinterest Images
Even though Pinterest is all about sharing photos, copyright rules still exist. When sharing content from outside the platform, you must take considerable more attention. The rules are similar in general and are based on clear communication.
Investigate the image and its origin. It’s safe to use if it’s from the public domain or has a Creative Commons logo. If it belongs to someone, you should first contact the originator and obtain their permission.
Because the majority of images on Pinterest are owned, you may find yourself doing this frequently. However, many are illegally repinned as well, so be cautious about utilizing any you’re not positive about.
Finally, depending on what the owner requests and where you intend to use their image, always give credit where credit is due. You may only need to attribute it to their brand, for example. However, if we’re talking about a website or a digital form, you may need to include links to their domain.
It’s good etiquette to give the artist credit even if the material doesn’t need it. As a result, regardless of whether or not it’s required, you might want to consider doing this for every post.
Summary
Pinterest is steadily becoming a more positive place, thanks to the Creator Code and enforced copyright policies. The very least you can do is educate yourself on what you can and cannot do when using photos in your Pinterest boards.
But obeying the law isn’t only about avoiding punishment. It also prevents you from stomping on another person’s toes or exploiting their artistic expression. If you follow the guidelines, everyone on Pinterest is pleased and motivated.
