DigiKnow: Pinterest, Volkswagen and SOPA/PIPA

Here are some of the hottest topics this week.

1. Fast growing online darling Pinterest is inspiring lots of interest, with copycats galore.

TechCrunch reported that Google expressed interest in buying Pinterest for $100 million. No deal yet, and other rumors say Google is creating a similar site on their own. Facebook has also introduced 60 new lifestyle apps from partners like Pinterest, Spotify and Ticketmaster. The apps are currently only accessible for those using the new Timeline. The apps go beyond traditional Facebook “likes” to showcase things users have “pinned,” “listened to” or “wish-listed.” The most brazen imitation (the most sincere form of flattery, right?) site is Pinspire, which looks shockingly similar to Pinterest. Forbes.com reports the site is pulling users from Pinterest through a guerilla marketing campaign.

Is it Pinterest? Look again, it’s Pinspire.com.

2. Volkswagen has garnered a lot of pre-Super Bowl buzz this week, with their “The Bark Side” teaser.

To date, the ad to promote their Super Bowl spot has recieved more than 9 million YouTube views, out-trending last year’s award-winning Darth Vader spot. If you’re not one of the 9 million people who have seen the new ad, take a look.

The teaser looks promising, but can the in-game ads live up to the hype?

3. It was a big week for the proposed anti-piracy legislation SOPA/PIPA, with Wikipedia going dark for 24 hours, and more than 7 million people signing pledges opposing the legislation.

All of the negative attention seems to have slowed the momentum of the bills, which are on hold for now. However, backers and opponents alike think some anti-piracy legislation will move forward.

“At a minimum, Congress should start from scratch to determine the nature of the problem,” Public Knowledge legal director Harold Feld said in a statement. “If Congress goes ahead with legislation, it should hear widely from those concerned about the pending legislation — from Internet technologists, from law professors, artists, human rights activists, consumers and even public interest groups. Only then will legislation be truly accepted and truly be effective.”

Read more here.

4. NBC News announced this week it is starting an e-book publishing unit.

They will create original e-books and videos, repurposing content from their other divisions, like NBC Sports, Universal Pictures and Telemundo. With the proliferation of tablets and e-readers, they see an opportunity to create an opportunity to “ bring readers a unique and immersive content experience,” according to Cheryl Gould, senior vice president of NBC News, who will lead NBC Publishing.