Vision board

For users, creating a Pinterest Board takes personal dedication and delivers inspiration. Some of the more popular boards to develop arguably include Wedding, Home Décor, Fashion, and DIY. During preparation for an upcoming wedding, a user may refer to a database of images that may incite an element of creativity, such as gown styles, cake decorations, or centerpiece ideas, which may be virtually “pinned” to the inspiration board. A possible underlying purpose of engaging in the app is to visualize a change in lifestyle or help plan for a future event. Despite the exposition of positive images and ideas, the company must now prepare for a legal defense.

This month, a judge dismissed the company’s attempt to dismiss a legal claim surrounding the origin of the platform. The plaintiff, Christine Martinez, alleges several contributions offered to Pinterest’s cofounder, Ben Silbermann, some of which include the establishment of a marketing plan to incorporate the influence of bloggers and the revitalization of features associated with Pinterest’s Boards. The company discounts the plaintiff’s claims, citing issues with the statute of limitations and the absence of a formal contract. In regard to the statute of limitations, the judge handling the case acknowledged that the plaintiff provided sufficient facts that support the claim that she made an agreement of deferred payment or compensation with the founders.

The chief communications officer for Pinterest has not expressed real concern about the lawsuit and is confident that, as the lawsuit progresses, the facts should reveal that the claims against the company are unfounded. The plaintiff, who has a background in blogging and founding a startup company, contends that she was doing a favor for friends who did not possess the marketing experience necessary to effectively deliver an interesting product to consumers. Under her agreement, which she agrees was verbal and implied, the plaintiff was supposed to be paid for her services. The company went public in 2019, about ten years after it was established.