pg is right to say you shouldn't let clones be a big distraction. This is especially true for Pinterest because we're a small team and we have a lot of work to do. We're trying to build something important that makes life better for lots of people. If you want to help us, you should write to me.
Lots of people on this thread say that clones are inevitable and profitable. That might be true, but at least for me, it would be a sad way to spend my time. I'd hate to tell my kids that I used my best years copying other peoples' products instead of trying to create new ones.
Implement independent user accounts. I got an invite to join Pinterest and then found that I can only sign up using Twitter (no thank you) or Facebook (ultra-double no thank you).
Pinspire will let me create a Pinspire account, so right off the bat they are more useful to me. If they offer an Android app I'll be completely sold.
Note to Web apps who think they are fodder for such cloning: You best be really full-featured out of the gate, otherwise you've given away your lead in the arms race.
Lots of people on this thread say that clones are inevitable and profitable. That might be true, but at least for me, it would be a sad way to spend my time. I'd hate to tell my kids that I used my best years copying other peoples' products instead of trying to create new ones.