OMG!!! Pinterest now has over 10.4 million registered users, 9 million monthly Facebook-connected users, and 2 million daily Facebook users, according to Inside Network’s AppData tracking service.
With gorgeous photography, and links to shopping sites, Pinterest is becoming an obsession for flocks of women. And they’re not afraid to show it, I mean, Like it. AppData and Facebook’s advertising tool show that over 97% of Pinterest’s Facebook fans are women.
The stunningly feminine fan base could be a telling proxy for Pinterest’s actual user base, which totals over 10.4 million considering that’s how many users follow the official “Pinterest” account.
Even though it was co-founded by three men, the site’s not shy about courting women. It’s About page describes that
“People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.”
Sure, dudes can do all those things too, but they’re probably not addicted to pinning tuxedos and power tools like women pin brides dresses and bundt cakes. Pinterest’s easy-to-use Pin It bookmarklet and the joy of curation is keeping ladies and gentlemen engaged. [Update: Pinterest also employs aggressive reengagement emails to notify users when their friends join, which may be assisting growth but annoying users.]
Over 1/5 of its fast-growing Facebook-connected monthly user count use Pinterest each day. At the start of 2012 the daily user count was just 810,000, but now its at 2 million according to AppData. This week comScore said Pinterest hit 10 millionU.S. monthly unique visitors faster than any independent site in history.
There are so many beautiful things to share, and they don’t deserve to slip into obscurity at the bottom of our Twitter feeds and Facebook profiles. Pinterest gives people the chance to say “I love this, and not just today. This helps define me.”
COMMENTARY: In a blog article dated February 1, 2012, I profiled Pinterest. I was very impressed and joined a few days later. Pinterest had 4 million users at the end of November 2011. This jumped to 7.21 million by the end of December 2011. Pinterest now has 10.4 million registered users and 9 million Facebook active users. Very impressive growth.
According to comScore, Pinterest's traffic has skyrocked from 500K to 5 million active monthly users between May 2011 and Nov 2011 as shown below:
Reddit compiled the following demographics for Pinterest as of November 2011:
30% of Pinterest users are between 25-34 years of age on Nov 2011 (Reddit)
80% of Pinterest users were female on Nov 2011 (Reddit)
60% of Pinterest users have some college, 19% have Bachelors degrees on Nov 2011 (Reddit)
35% of Pinterest users earn $25K-$49.9K, 34% earn $50K-$74.9K on Nov 2011 (Reddit)
From the look of things, Pinterest has been leaning towards females since it launched in May 2011, and it does not appear that things will change. At this rate it could easily challenge some of heavy femal demographic sites like
Copyright clouds are fathering around Pinterest. All the hype has also brought attention from another quarter: angry copyright owners. On sites like iStock, photographers are complaining that their pretty pictures are being used without permission in users’ collages. And to judge by Pinterest’s voicemail, the photographers are not the only ones upset.
Pinterest didn't disclose how many copyright complaints it receives. The company added that it actively responds to notices sent by email, and that it’s “building more tools to make it easier for rights holders to file a report.”
In the bigger picture, the copyright questions echo disputes from an earlier era that pit legal rules against new forms of culture. These include a long-running lawsuit over a short flute sample in the Beastie Boys hit ‘Pass the Mic’ (the Beasties won) and a 2005 Supreme Court decision that shut down music-sharing site Grokster.
And, let's not forget Napster. It ended real bad for Napster after the entire music industry conspired to sue it out-of-business. Could the same thing happen to Pinterest?
Courtesy of an article dated February 11, 2012 appearing in TechCrunch and an article dated January 24, 2012 appearing in Ignite Social Mediaand an article dated February 10, 2012 appearing in paidContent.org
(Reuters) - The lawmaker behind a bill to combat online piracy vowed on Thursday to press ahead in the face of fierce criticism from Internet giants such as Google and Facebook.
Republican Representative Lamar Smith told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"It is amazing to me that the opponents apparently don't want to protect American consumers and businesses. Are they somehow benefitting by directing customers to these foreign websites? Do they profit from selling advertising to these foreign websites? And if they do, they need to be stopped. And I don't mind taking that on."
The Stop Online Piracy Act, which is before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee chaired by Smith, aims to fight online piracy of pharmaceuticals, music and other consumer products by allowing the Department of Justice to seek federal court injunctions against foreign-based websites.
Smith said Internet counterfeiters cost American consumers, businesses, inventors and workers some $100 billion a year, though critics accuse him of exaggerating.
Under the bill, if a judge agrees that websites offer material that violates U.S. copyright laws, Internet service providers could be required to block access to foreign sites and U.S. online ad networks could be required to stop ads and search engines barred from directly linking to them.
Heavyweights such as Google, Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit oppose the bill, which came under fire at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Reddit chief executive Alexis Ohanian has said it would "cripple the Internet" and pledged to take his social media site dark for one day next week to protest the bill.
Ohanian wrote on his blog.
"This (SOPA) could potentially obliterate the entire tech industry - a job-creating industry."
Smith stressed the bill would only affect websites based outside the United States and criticized opponents for failing to cite specific sections, saying many have failed to read it and were disguising their economic interests with rhetoric about Internet freedom.
Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt told the Economic Club of Washington last month that the bill would "effectively break the Internet" and he compared Smith's efforts to the same type of censorship that Google has experienced in China.
Smith said.
"There are some companies like Google that make money by directing consumers to these illegal websites. So I don't think they have any real credibility to complain even though they are the primary opponent."
Smith has received numerous awards from conservative organizations for his opposition to efforts to expand the federal government's power.
But the Texas representative says giving Washington sweeping powers over the Internet is necessary to protect free enterprise.
Smith predicted the bill would pass the House. It was about halfway through the process of committee hearings and could go to the House floor in a matter a weeks, he said. The Senate was considering a similar measure.
COMMENTARY: As a blogger, I can see a situation where my blog could be shutdown by my blogging service because I added an image or article protected by a U.S. copyright, that I borrowed from a foreign website, who is the real violator of the copyright. Since so much content flows through Google, Facebook and millions of other sites, and there is no way of determining whether the content is copyrighted (who has the time to check?), SOPA could become very damaging to U.S. website owners and bloggers. This is such a bad law, because in many ways, the fox is already in the chicken coop, and its now an infestation.
Courtesy of an article dated January 12, 2012 appearing in Reuters
Apple Inc has moved swiftly and, until now, secretly to crack down on stores in the Chinatown section of Queens, New York, accused of selling knock-off Apple gear emblazoned with the company's distinctive logo, according to documents unsealed Thursday in Brooklyn federal court.
Court records reveal that Apple has already seized unauthorized iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories sold by two stores in the Flushing neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens, and is now demanding the names of its customers and suppliers. It is also asking one of the defendants -- Apple Story -- to change its name to keep consumers from confusing the unauthorized gear with Apple-sanctioned products.
The trademark infringement lawsuit was first filed on July 25 against Apple Story and Fun Zone Inc., both owned by New York resident Janie Po Chiang, who is named as a co-defendant in the suit, along with Fun Zone manager Jimmy Kwok.
But the case remained under seal until Thursday, when U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto ordered the record to be made public following a request from Reuters.
Under the U.S. trademark counterfeiting law, a company can file a trademark infringement action under seal initially, so as not to tip off the accused counterfeiters before seizure orders are executed.
The unsealed documents show how seriously Apple is responding to threats by pirated goods to its brand, one of the best-known and most valuable. The lawsuit also comes amid increasing reports of fake Apple products -- and even whole counterfeit Apple stores -- popping up in China.
'NEARLY AN EXACT DUPLICATE'
According to a court filing from Apple, the company sent representatives to Apple Story and Fun Zone in Flushing on "multiple occasions over several weeks," where they bought an assortment of iPod, iPhone and iPad cases, as well as stereo headsets designed for use with iPhones.
All of the purchased goods carried an Apple trademark, according to the amended complaint. They were also marked with the phrase "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China," and included markings similar to those found on genuine Apple goods.
The headsets came with packaging that was "nearly an exact duplicate" of that for genuine Apple goods, the lawsuit said.
Apple said in its amended complaint.
"Defendants are trading on and receiving the benefit of the goodwill Apple has established in the Apple trademarks through considerable labor and expense over many years,"
On July 27, Apple executed several ex parte seizure warrants -- allowing the company to seize the items -- that swept up goods from both stores that bore the Apple logo. Matsumoto granted Apple's request for a preliminary injunction to stop both stores from selling knockoff goods, but has yet to rule on whether Apple Story must change its name.
The parties are moving toward an agreement to settle the case, court records show, but nothing has been finalized. In addition to an agreement to stop counterfeiting goods, Apple is seeking a complete list of all individuals or entities who either purchased or sold counterfeit products, an order to destroy any remaining counterfeit products and triple monetary damages.
CRUSADE MAY CONTINUE
Even if both sides reach a deal, Apple's crusade against the counterfeiters may continue. The lawsuit includes an undisclosed number of individuals and businesses who made, sold or distributed the alleged counterfeit goods.
Their identities are not yet known, but could include entities higher up on the suspected counterfeit chain. Apple has won a court order requiring the defendants to turn over access to their business email accounts, which could yield clues about other defendants to be named at a later date.
Samuel Chuang, an attorney for the defendants, declined to comment on the case. Attorneys and a spokesperson for Apple did not immediately return a request for comment.
The case is Apple Inc. v. Apple Story Inc et al, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, no. 11-3550.
For Apple: Mark Mutterperl and Todd Hambidge of Fulbright & Jaworski.
For the defendants: Samuel Chuang of the Law Offices of Samuel Chuang.
COMMENTARY: The Chinese are the world leaders in knocking off products from Gucci handbags to Levi's apparel. It is estimated that China has cost brands around the world over $50 billion a year alone.
In a blog post dated July 25, 2011, I reported on the fake Apple Stores that are beginning to appear in China. Apple has moved with the speed of a cougar hunting down prey to shutdown those fake Apple Stores.
Now the Chinese knockoff artists, emboldened by knocking off Apple in China, are setting up shop in broad daylight in Flushing, New York, selling fake Apple accessories. Apple pounced on and sued the two stores involved.
Apple Story "fake" Apple store
You have a feeling that Steve Jobs, is at home right now, slamming his fists on his desk, and yelling obsenities.
"Tim (Tim Cook, Apple's new CEO), I want you to crush those two phoney ass stores selling Apple knockoffs now."
Apple's powerful and foreceful legal team appears to be everywhere, and they are vindictive as hell. They even sued Samsung, one of their component suppliers, for infringing on their iPhone patents, and just won a lawsuit that prevents Samsung from selling their Android phones in Europe.
Courtesy of an article dated August 18, 2011 appearing in Reuters
When one of the handles of Karineh Gurjian-Angelo's Yves Saint Laurent bag broke, she took the tote to a YSL boutique to have it fixed. Instead of repairing it, the sales associate told her it was fake.
He pointed out all the subtle ways he could tell it wasn't authentic, including the bag's improper lining and lack of embossing on the bottom. She was mortified.
How to Spot a Fake
A new generation of counterfeit fashion goods -- made of high-quality materials, with zippers and grommets boasting brand names -- are fooling even savvy shoppers. Luxury goods authentication expert Elizabeth Bernstein points out some key details to look out for
"I felt like I was back in school in the principal's office," said Ms. Gurjian-Angelo, a New York photographer who often shoots accessories and is familiar with high-end handbags.
She had been thrilled to get the shiny black YSL bag on eBay for $300. The low price made her suspect it might be fake, but when it arrived with price tags that looked authentic, she said she thought, "Wow, it is real."
Ms. Gurjian-Angelo fell victim to a new generation of counterfeit fashion goods, offering much more convincing facsimiles of actual products. They are a far cry from cheap knockoffs, with "Prado" or "Cucci" logos sold out of trash bags on street corners to consumers who know they're buying fakes. The goods are made of high-quality materials, with zippers and grommets boasting the brand name, and are stamped with what appears to be the proper manufacturing location and date. They're fooling even savvy shoppers, especially online.
Vendors selling fake merchandise can easily set up legitimate-looking ecommerce sites, with full product descriptions as well as marketing images and logos that look like those on websites selling authentic goods. They also buy keyword advertisements on search engines to lure in bargain-hunting shoppers, said Frederick Felman, chief marketing officer at MarkMonitor, a firm that helps companies protect their brands.
The prices of the imitators are rising, confusing customers who are looking for the real deal at a discounted price. Still, the higher-priced fakes are just a fraction of what a real item would cost. YSL's authentic version of Ms. Gurjian-Angelo's bag sells for more than $1,500.
The second-hand marketplace is often where counterfeiters sell fakes to unsuspecting customers.
Ebay says it combats fakes aggressively, in part through a program which gives brands or other intellectual property rights owners special tools to report listings. When brands flag a listing as inauthentic, it is removed within hours, the company said. EBay also independently scans its millions of listings for fake products.
In a statement, eBay's Dan Dougherty, associate general counsel, intellectual property, said, "In the rare cases when a counterfeit item appears on the site, buyers are covered for eligible purchases through our Buyer Protection programs." The programs enable buyers to return an item if it wasn't what the seller promised. (Ms. Gurjian-Angelo didn't take action regarding her bag.)
Some manufacturers are fighting back by embedding hidden security devices into products and scouring the Web to attempt to stop unauthorized sites selling their products.
The International Chamber of Commerce estimates that the value of counterfeit and pirated products worldwide is about $600 billion, and projects that figure to double by 2015. Last year, U.S. agents conducted nearly 20,000 seizures of goods that infringed on intellectual property rights, an increase of 34% from 2010, according to a report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 2001, there were about 3,600 seizures.
Some Tips To Prevent Getting Fooled By Fakes
Buy directly from the brand. A sure-fire way to buy an authentic product is to purchase a new item at the brand's own boutique.
Find an authorized retailer. If you cannot buy something from the brand directly, ask for a list of its approved sellers. Department store chains, such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, are reputable points of sale as well.
Check the authenticity policy when buying second hand. If buying a used luxury item from a website or a consignment store, carefully read or ask for its sales policy. Make sure the seller guarantees its products' authenticity.
Be wary of discounts. Top luxury brands rarely offer deep price cuts on their merchandise. Be suspicious if a luxury item is marked more than 25% off the retail price.
Scrutinize websites selling the product. Counterfeiters have gotten more sophisticated in selling goods online. Examine the website for its validity, including product images—and price points. Another clue: often times the Frequently Asked Questions area contains grammatical errors.
Footwear was the top commodity seized, the government agencies said. Clothes and handbags ranked third and fourth, respectively.
Before buying what she thought was a vintage Chanel bag at a local consignment store, Vickie Laliotis, a student and fashion blogger, eyed it carefully. The hardware bore the company's name and the front closure featured the brand's signature interlocking Cs. Ms. Laliotis even sniffed the quilted scarlet tote to see if it smelled like real leather.
Convinced it was real, Ms. Laliotis paid more than $100 to buy the purse.
"I figured, well, why would they make a fake out of such nice leather?" said the 27-year-old, who lives in Victoria, British Columbia.
Later, Ms. Laliotis deduced from the lining and other markings that her purchase was a fake. She tucked it away in her closet. "I couldn't wear it. I just feel like a fraud," she said.
A new quilted Chanel handbag would cost several thousand dollars.
"Fighting counterfeit goods is a major concern," a spokeswoman for Chanel said in a statement, adding that the brand dedicates "considerable financial and human resources" to pursue producers of fake goods. The company said that "some counterfeit leather goods do look a lot like the real thing." The only way to ensure a bag is actual Chanel, the company said, is to purchase it directly from Chanel or its authorized retailers.
More than 60% of counterfeit goods seized by U.S. agents last year came from China, which has a sizeable pool of highly skilled labor and is increasingly the source of legitimate luxury goods manufacturing. Seizures from China rose 18%, in part the result of higher mail activity.
Online sales of counterfeit goods make fighting back a much more complex task than it used to be, says Tom Onda, chief intellectual property counsel at Levi Strauss & Co. Instead of scouring flea markets and raiding retailers, "trying to monitor the Internet is a Herculean task," he said.
The jeans maker has a team of 40 employees worldwide who, among other things, keep tabs on unauthorized sites selling its product. When a cease and desist letter doesn't suffice, the company works with the Internet service provider to take down the site, Levi's said. It also may file civil action. But successfully taking down a site doesn't mean removing the product from the marketplace, Mr. Onda said. Often merchants just set up a new domain name.
To fight back, more brands are turning to authentication devices into their merchandise. Levi's is researching a new type of labeling technology to help its own anti-counterfeiting teams identify its products as authentic. Mr. Onda declined to provide specifics. High-end denim brand True Religion Apparel Inc. puts a security device into each pair of its jeans, said Deborah Greaves, security and general counsel. Mr. Onda and Ms. Greaves declined to give specifics citing concerns that details would undermine their security efforts.
Applied DNA Sciences, based in Stony Brook, N.Y., has a new technology that embeds botanical DNA into fibers that can then be sewn into a garment. The DNA is detectable under a specific light and can be assigned to a specific brand. It can't be copied. The company's clients include two European luxury brands, which it declined to name.
At Chanel, the company tracks each part of a bag's production process using a unique number, sort of like a vehicle identification number on a new car, which is then printed on a card that comes with the bag, a spokeswoman said. For consumers, the devices are only helpful if they take the product somewhere for verification, such as an official boutique.
Elizabeth Bernstein works for Portero, an online second-hand luxury-goods retailer. She investigates vendors who sell handbags and leather goods on the site. Portero guarantees authenticity or a full refund.
Hardware on a luxury product should have the appropriate markings, texture and weight, Ms. Bernstein said. Metal pieces shouldn't feel like plastic or sound like tin when they clink together. Zippers should close effortlessly, without resistance or snagging. Toggles and locks should also turn easily.
Most luxury products are hand-stitched—one reason behind the high price tag. Fakes are often created with machines. The human element adds a level of imperfection that won't be found on most fakes, she said.
Ms. Bernstein is constantly tracking the knockoffs' improvements. Recently, a Louis Vuitton bag had the proper stamp of the year, week and location from which the bag was produced. "They're making better and better fakes every day," Ms. Bernstein said. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, had no comment.
COMMENTARY: China is the U.S.'s top trading partner for intellectural property rights (IPR) a.k.a. fake merchandise violations. China totaled $204.7M and accounted for 79% of the total domestic value for all IPR seizures.
Piracy in China cost member companies of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) about $244 million in revenue in 2005. "According to the MPAA, piracy has reached almost 100 percent of the retail market in China," with losses to the entire copyright community reaching over $2.3 billion in 2005 alone and surpassing $10.6 billion over the preceding five years.
Hong Kong contributed to $26.8M of the the total domestic value for all IPR seizures, making it the second largest contributer with 10% of the market.
India was in third place, with $3M and 1% of the total domestic value.
The following is the breakdown of the ten largest contributors:
Xiushui Market in Beijing, for example, hundreds of vendors occupy cramped stalls offering cheap knock-off merchandise, such as “LV bags, Hermes neckties, or Ralph Lauren cashmere sweaters,” at an extreme fraction of what the authentic goods would cost. Xiushui Market is “visited by as many as 20,000 customers on a busy day and sells an estimated $12 million worth of merchandise annually.” Although these numbers alone are significant, “similar markets are scattered across Beijing, Shanghai, and other large cities.”
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