On October 24, 2013, Pinterest updated its Acceptable Use Policy [http://about.pinterest.com/use/] to include prohibitions on contests and promotions that require contestants to make use of aspects of Pinterest's functionality to participate. While these restrictions had previously been posted under Pinterest's Brand Guidelines [http://business.pinterest.com/brand-guidelines/], the addition of the rules to the Acceptable Use Policy reinforces Pinterest's commitment to policing non-compliant promotions.
As explained in a blog post published by the company [http://businessblog.pinterest.com/post/64976400223/better-ways-to-reach-pinners], these restrictions are designed to prevent promoters from using Pinterest's functionality to encourage irrelevant or "spammy" content being placed on Pinterest.
The new section in the Acceptable Use Policy provides states as follows:
If you run a contest or other type of promotion on Pinterest, you agree not to:
- Suggest that Pinterest sponsors or endorses you or the promotion;
- Require people to pin from a selection;
- Make people pin your contest rules;
- Run a sweepstakes where each pin, board, like or follow represents an entry;
- Encourage spammy behavior, such as asking participants to comment;
- Ask pinners to vote with pins, boards, or likes; or
- Require a minimum number of pins.
Advertisers and marketers should take the time to review Pinterest's new policies, since contest or promotions which are in breach of these rules may be shut down.
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