1. Terms of Service (TOS) Analysis
This slideshow summarises the TOS of the online service Pinterest and pin-points some key issues found therein. The terms
analysed here were effective as of the 6th of April 2012. They can be found here: http://pinterest.com/about/terms/
3. Pinterest is
a virtual pin-board.
Pinterest lets registered users
create pin-boards where you can
'pin'
online content you find
interesting, helpful or desirable.
4. Users share their pin-boards for friends or the
public to see and most content found on
Pinterest can be
're-pinned' to your own pin-boards.
5. Issues Surrounding the use
of Pinterest
1. Ownership
2. Copyright
3. Surveillance
4. Freedom of Expression
6. Ownership
"Anything that you pin, post, display, or
otherwise make available on our Service,
including all Intellectual Property Rights in such
content, is referred to as “User Content.” You
retain all of your rights in all of the User
Content you post to our Service." Pinterest TOS
7. Ownership
Unlike other social networks, Pinterest does not take ownership
of materials you post on their service.
But.
Just because you pin online materials to your pin-board, does not
mean you take ownership of that content.
8. Ownership
Pinterest also relinquishes all
responsibilities in regards to any
content being stolen, used,
distributed or pinned on the service
without consent or permission from
the owner/creator.
That responsibility resides with
YOU!
9. Copyright
"Subject to any applicable account settings you select, you
grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable,
sublicensable, worldwide license to use, display,
reproduce, re-pin, modify (e.g., re-format), re-arrange, and
distribute your User Content on Pinterest for the purposes
of operating and providing the Service(s) to you and to our
other Users." Pinterest TOS
10. Copyright
"Nothing in these Terms shall restrict Pinterest’s rights under separate
licenses to User Content." Pinterest TOS
Pinterest can do whatever they want with the
content you pin, within the service...
11. Copyright
Whether or not you are the rightful owner of pinned intellectual property
within Pinterest, you automatically give Pinterest a non-exclusive right to
do whatever they choose, with said content, within Pinterest.
"...use, display, reproduce, re-pin, modify (e.g., re-format), re-
arrange, and distribute your User Content..." Pinterest TOS
12. Surveillance
"When you visit the Service, whether as a
registered User or a non-registered User just
browsing, our servers automatically record
information that your browser sends
whenever you visit a website."
13. Surveillance
This type of surveillance is common
practice with many social platforms.
Log Data is used to serve up suitable
advertisements to the user's interests
and cookies are placed on your computer
to monitor your movements online.
14. Freedom of Expression
"We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to
remove User Content from the Service for
any reason, including User Content that we
believe violates these Terms or the Pinterest
Acceptable Use Policy."
15. Freedom of Expression
Pinterest's world-view is reflected in their Acceptable Use Policy...
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, though Pinterest will
not tolerate online materials that are offensive to other users.
16. Freedom of Expression
The types of offensive content
Pinterest does not tolerate
includes racism, pornography and
abusive material.
If you pin offensive content on
Pinterest, it is likely that it will be
removed.
17. Pinterest
Pinterest takes the least amount of responsibilities they can in providing
their service to you.
They even label themselves as a passive conduit for the
interactions that take place.
You are responsible for your actions within Pinterest.
Be careful what you pin, and try to abide by the Terms of Service.
18. References
Adriaensen, S. (2007). Exclamation mark. Online Image. Grim, J. (2007). Burglar + Bag. Online Image.
Retrieved on the 17th of October 2012 from: Retrieved on the 17th of October 2012 from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simiezzz/1070601182/sizes/m/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/grimages/861321715/
Baird, K. (2007). MSU Bulletin Board Sept. 1993. Online Guthier, C. (2009). Drawing Pin. Online Image.
Image. Retrieved on the 14th of October 2012 from:
Retrieved on the 15th of October 2012 from: http://www.flickr.
http://www.flickr. com/photos/wheatfields/3798035262/sizes/o/in/photostrea
com/photos/kennonbaird/1337725743/sizes/m/ m/
Beveridge, D. (2010). Binoculars. Online Image. Pinterest. (2012). What is Pinterest?, Pinterest.
Retrieved on the 18th of October 2012 from: Retrieved on the 16th of October 2012 from:
http://www.flickr. http://pinterest.com/about/
com/photos/scissorfighter/4857071188/sizes/z/
Riza, M. (2007). Finger Two. Online Image.
Deal, M. & Carlos Pagan, J. Pinterest Logo. Online Image. Retrieved on the 18th of October 2012 from:
Retrieved on the 14th of October 2012 from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moriza/2257461946/sizes/o/
http://pinterest.com/about/goodies/
