How Do I Stop People From Stealing My Images on Pinterest
Let’s face it, Pinterest is an amazing platform to share your creative work, get inspired, and grow your following.
However, one common problem on the platform, and something we get asked a lot is “how to stop people stealing my Pinterest images”.
When you see that someone has ripped off your hard work without your permission, it can be super frustrating. Don’t worry, there are some simple strategies you can follow to protect your images content from theft. But first..
Why Does Image Theft Happen?
People often steal images on Pinterest for various reasons. They might want to use your beautiful photos on their own boards or websites, or they may want to use your designs for their projects. While it’s flattering that they like your work, it’s still important to protect it.
Are Pinterest images copyright-free? Are Pinterest images free to use?
No, Pinterest images are not copyright-free. The majority of the images on the platform are protected by copyright and owned by the original creators, not Pinterest. Simply pinning, saving, or finding an image publicly does not grant you the right to use it, especially for commercial projects, which can lead to copyright infringement!
Can i use images from Pinterest on my website?
As above, if they are not yours and you are not the original creator, you CANNOT use images on your site.
Strategies to protect your images
Add a Watermark
This is probably the best method to prevent “Pinterest stealing images” is by adding a watermark to your photos.
A watermark is a small, semi-transparent logo or text that can be added on top of your image. This shows clearly who the image belongs to and discourages people from using it without permission.
How to Add a Watermark:
- Use a photo editing tool like Canva or Photoshop
- Create a small logo or text with your name or website
- Place it in a corner or across the image
Use Low-Resolution Images
Another trick is to upload images that aren’t the best quality, so low-resolution images. High-quality images are more tempting to steal because they are crisp and look attractive.
By using lower resolution, your images can still look good, but it won’t be so useful to the person stealing your images.
How to Adjust Image Resolution:
- Use a photo editing tool
- Save your images at a lower DPI (dots per inch)
- Keep the resolution around 72 DPI for online use
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Report Stolen Images
If you come to the unfortunate conclusion that someone has stolen your content and images, Pinterest does have a process to report it. By reporting the image and account to Pinterest, you can have the stolen image taken down.
How to Report a Stolen Image:
- Click on the pin that has your stolen image
- Click on the three dots (…) at the top
- Select “Report Pin” and follow the instructions
Report Stolen Images on Pinterest
Create Unique Content
This strategy is about creating super specific and niche content. The more unique and specific to your brand, the more difficult it is to steal and replicate for the user who is trying to use it as their own.
This could mean adding personal touches to your designs or sharing images that tell a story about you or your brand.
Use Pinterest’s Built-In Protection Tools
Pinterest also offers some tools to help protect your images. For example, you can disable the “Save” button on your website, making it harder for people to pin your images without permission.
How to Disable the Save Button:
- Go to your Pinterest account settings
- Find the “Website” section
- Toggle off the “Save Button” option
Stay Alert
Regularly do a bit of a search and look through Pinterest to see if your images are being used without your permission.
Hot tip, you can use Google Reverse Image Search to find where your images might be hiding and appearing online.
How to Use Google Reverse Image Search:
- Go to images.google.com
- Click on the camera icon
- Upload your image or paste the image URL
- Review the search results to see where your image appears
The other option is to right click in chrome on your image on Pinterest and select, search with Google lens, this will also conduct the reverse image search.
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