It’s easy to download pictures from Pinterest, but it is very vital that you know the rules of copyright. Pinterest is a place where millions of creators post their original artwork, designs, photography, and branded content. So, it should always be done responsibly and in line with the law when using a Pinterest Image Downloader.
Below are the details of Pinterest’s copyright regulations and the proper conduct of users when downloading pictures.
Who Owns the Images on Pinterest?
Each picture on Pinterest is the property of its original maker or the one who has the copyright, not Pinterest.
Original creators are:
- Photographers
- Artists
- Designers
- Brands
- Bloggers
- E-commerce businesses
Pinterest is just the server for the images — it doesn’t take ownership.
What Content You Can Download Safely
You may download:
- Pictures for your own use
- Pictures for learning, inspiration, mood boards
- Pictures for offline viewing
- Pictures to keep as references (DIY, recipes, art, home decor)
Which all fall under the category of “personal, non-commercial use.”
What You Should NOT Do
Downloading of Pinterest images for these intents is forbidden:
- Posting someone’s art as your own
- Using pictures in business ads or branding without the consent
- Producing and selling printed posters, T-shirts, or merch
- Sharing without providing credit
- Taking off watermarks
- Without the proper permission, using copyrighted content on your site
These behaviors may lead to copyright infringement complaints or DMCA takedown notices.
Is Downloading Pinterest Images Legal?
What is legal is the downloading action itself but the usages of the pictures that determine if it’s legal or not.
- Allowed: Personal use, education, offline viewing
- Not Allowed: Commercial use without permission
Example:
- ✔ Saving a Pinterest image to study a design
- ✘ Using that image in your website logo
Fair Use — What It Means
Fair Use allows you to use limited parts of copyrighted works without permission in some countries, but only if the use is:
- Commentary
- Research
- Parody
- Teaching
Still, providing credit to the original creator is always better.
When You Need Permission
If the following scenarios fit your situation, then you have to ask for permission:
- If the picture is going to be used for a business project
- If you are going to print the picture or sell it
- If you want to use the photography of some person for your blogs or thumbnails
- If you want to use the photo in videos or on YouTube
- If you want to use it for the designs, covers, advertising, or products
Most of the time, creators communicate their answers via:
- Their website
- Instagram
- Email
- Pinterest profile
How to Credit the Original Creator
While reposting the content which is allowed (like motivational pictures), do it in this way:
- “Image Credit: [Creator Name] via Pinterest”
- It is better to always provide a link back to:
- The original pin, or
- The creator’s page
Thus, you are safeguarding yourself from copyright troubles.
What Happens When Copyright Is Violated
In order to comply with copyright laws, Pinterest employs several strict measures such as:
- DMCA removal requests
- Account warnings
- Temporary suspension
- Permanent account ban
Moreover, your website might be subjected to:
- DMCA strikes
- Search engine penalties
- Image removal notices
Therefore, it is always important to adhere to proper downloading etiquette.
Safe & Ethical Downloading Rules
These are some of the best practices:
✔ Download for personal use only
✔ Always give credit to the original creators
✔ Do not make a false claim that the downloaded images are yours
✔ Without permission, do not engage in commercial or business activities related to the images ✔ Do not download trademarked or branded images for the purpose of selling products
✔ Use images that are labeled as free (Creative Commons, Public Domain, etc.)
