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== Copyright violation issues ==
== Copyright violation issues ==
Pinterest said in February 2012 that it was developing an improved method for copyright holders to report infringing content on Pinterest. [[Getty Images]] said in February 2012 that it was discussing copyright problems with Pinterest <ref>{{cite web|url=http://paidcontent.org/article/419-pinterest-is-it-a-facebook-or-a-grokster/ |title=Pinterest - is it a Facebook or a Grokster? |publisher=paidcontent.org |date= |accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>
Copyright concerns have been raised due to the fact that "Pinterest’s business is based almost entirely on using images without permission". <ref>{{cite web|url=http://paidcontent.org/article/419-pinterest-is-it-a-facebook-or-a-grokster/ |title=Pinterest - is it a Facebook or a Grokster? |publisher=paidcontent.org |date= |accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref> Pinterest said in February 2012 that it was developing an improved method for copyright holders to report infringing content on Pinterest. [[Getty Images]] said in February 2012 that it was discussing copyright problems with Pinterest <ref>{{cite web|url=http://paidcontent.org/article/419-pinterest-is-it-a-facebook-or-a-grokster/ |title=Pinterest - is it a Facebook or a Grokster? |publisher=paidcontent.org |date= |accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>

== Controversy over affiliate links ==
In an article on The New York times website it was noted that Pinterest modifies users' links to items that they have found, and adds an affiliate tracking code without advising the user.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/is-pinterest-already-making-money-quietly/ |title=Is Pinterest already making money? |publisher=New York Times |date= |accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>


== Registration process ==
== Registration process ==

Revision as of 17:53, 14 February 2012

Pinterest
Available inEnglish
URLpinterest.com
RegistrationRequired for full functionality

Pinterest is a vision board-styled social photo sharing website especially popular among women.[2] The website and app allow users to create and manage theme-based image collections. The site's mission statement is to "connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting." Pinterest is managed by Cold Brew Labs, a team based in Palo Alto, California.

History

Work on Pinterest began in December 2009 and the site launched as a closed beta in March 2010. The site proceeded to operate in invitation-only open beta. Later, the site made registration possible after an email request. On August 16, 2011, Time magazine published Pinterest in its "50 Best Websites of 2011" column.[3]

The Pinterest app for iPhone was last updated in August 2011.[4] The company also has a mobile website.

In early 2011, the company secured a $10 million Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Shortly thereafter, in October 2011, the company secured $27 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz, which valued the company at USD $200 million.[5] Earlier in the year, it had been valued through venture financing at only $40 million.[6]

In December 2011, the site entered the top 10 social networks according to Hitwise data with 11 million total visits per week.[7] The next month, it drove more referral traffic to retailers than Linked In, You Tube and Google+.[8][9] The same month, the company was named the best new start up of 2011 by TechCrunch.[10] Noted entrepreneurs and investors include: Jack Abraham, Michael Birch, Scott Belsky, Brian S. Cohen, Shana Fisher, Ron Conway, Kevin Hartz, Jeremy Stoppelman, Hank Vigil, and Fritz Lanman.

In January 2012, comScore reported the site had 11.7 million unique users, making it the fastest site in history to break through the 10 million unique visitor mark.[11]

Pinterest has a unique ability to sell itself to the widest possible audience. For example, since February 13th 2012, the U.S Army has approximately 332 pins on 22 boards. Pinterest's wide reach helped it achieve an average of 11 million visits every week in December 2011. [12]

Usage

Users of Pinterest curate themed image boards, populating them with media found online using the "Pin It" button, or uploaded from their computer.[13] Each such item of media is known as a "pin," and can be a picture, a video, a discussion or a monetary gift. Pins can be grouped into "boards," which are sets of pins created on a given topic.

Pinterest can be accessed by adding the “pin it” button to the desktop bookmark bar, “follow me” and “pin it” button added to personal website or blog pages, and Pinterest for iPhone available through the App Store.[14]

Pinterest allows users to follow the activity of other Pinterest users. A Tastemakers page exists to suggest relevant users to follow.[13] When viewing the site's homepage, a user sees a "Pin Feed" that shows activity among the boards and pinners that the user follows.

Copyright concerns have been raised due to the fact that "Pinterest’s business is based almost entirely on using images without permission". [15] Pinterest said in February 2012 that it was developing an improved method for copyright holders to report infringing content on Pinterest. Getty Images said in February 2012 that it was discussing copyright problems with Pinterest [16]

In an article on The New York times website it was noted that Pinterest modifies users' links to items that they have found, and adds an affiliate tracking code without advising the user.[17]

Registration process

To register for Pinterest, new users must receive an invitation from a friend already registered on Pinterest or request an invitation directly from the Pinterest website. The registration process currently requires users to link their Pinterest account to their Facebook or Twitter account. Users choosing to log in via Facebook must currently be using (or opt in to) Facebook's "timeline" format.[18][19]

References

  1. ^ "Pinterest web traffic statistics". Alexa. February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  2. ^ Clayton Morris (13 February 2012). "Pinterest: Facebook for women?". Fox News. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  3. ^ McCracken, Harry (August 16, 2011). "The 50 Best Websites of 2011". Time. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  4. ^ "Pinterest". Pinterest. iTunes App Store. Retrieved November 2, 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  5. ^ Swisher, Kara (October 7, 2011). "Exclusive: Pinterest Set to Close a New Round with Andreessen Horowitz". AllThingsD. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  6. ^ Shah, Semil (November 6, 2011). "The Rise of Pinterest and the Shift From Search to Discovery". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  7. ^ Sloan, Paul (December 22, 2011). "Pinterest: Crazy growth lands it as top 10 social site". CNET News. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  8. ^ Fox, Zoe (February 1, 2012). "Pinterest Drives More Traffic Than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn". Mashable. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  9. ^ Indvik, Lauren (January 29, 2012). "Pinterest Becomes Top Traffic Driver for Retailers". Mashable. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  10. ^ "Congratulations Crunchies Winners! Dropbox Is The Best Overall Startup". TechCrunch. January 31, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  11. ^ http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/07/pinterest-monthly-uniques/
  12. ^ Murgai Puja February 13, 2012. “Military leads charge on Pinterest.” http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72786.html
  13. ^ a b Warner Spencer, Melanie (August 11, 2011). "Pinning: These are a few of my favorite things". Hearst Communications. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  14. ^ "What is Pinterest?". Pinterest.com. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  15. ^ "Pinterest - is it a Facebook or a Grokster?". paidcontent.org. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  16. ^ "Pinterest - is it a Facebook or a Grokster?". paidcontent.org. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  17. ^ "Is Pinterest already making money?". New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  18. ^ "Pinterest / Help". Pinterest.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  19. ^ Tsukayama, Hayley (March 25, 2011). "Facebook's Timeline has some vocal dissenters". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
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