If you have a business idea that incorporates a web presence, more likely than not your site will use content that you did not create. A large-scale example of this is the virtual pinboard “Pinterest,” which allows users to “pin” content from other websites onto their own profiles. A smaller-scale, but far more pervasive example is the font you use to display your content. No matter the nature or amount, any time you use non-original content on your website, it is critical to ensure that you are doing so in a way that protects you against claims of infringement.
In the case of Pinterest, the website contains strong Terms of Service and intellectual property policies to protect itself from infringement claims. Pinterest has clearly done its homework to limit its liability should its users “pin” infringing content. Any money that Pinterest’s creators put into developing the site, including its intellectual property policies, seems to be well worth it. Forbes reports that the site is currently valued at $7.7 billion.
Although few startups reach the level of Pinterest and the other social media giants like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, our goal is to protect our business clients regardless of their size. We will review your web content and alert you to any potential intellectual property issues, and draft strong policies to protect you from other users’ activities on your website. With our help, you can go online knowing that you are protected. No great business idea should be derailed by something as preventable as the unauthorized use of a copyrighted font, and we are here to make sure that does not happen to you.