Amazon KDP Select Can Change Its Rules Without Giving You Notice

Amazon KDP Select Rules Change Without Notice

It’s time to exit Amazon KDP Select, and the rules changed!

Those who read this blog will know that I believe Amazon is the first choice platform and retailer for self-published authors.

It offers the best chance of gaining sales.

Amazon KDP Select can give new authors a launching pad via free ebooks and, now, Kindle Unlimited, but at the cost of granting Amazon exclusivity.

KDP Select rules

However, I don’t believe leaving ebooks exclusive to Amazon and KDP Select forever is a good idea.

One reason is that it inhibits all chances of finding additional markets and readers.

Not all of the reading world uses Kindle or Amazon.

My other reason is only a hunch.

I have entered and exited KDP Select exclusivity many times.

But I believe that the benefit reduces after two or three enrolment periods.

I am not sure why.

Yes, Amazon’s marketing algorithms probably give more favor to newer titles.

But also perhaps to newly enrolled or re-enrolled exclusive titles.

Regardless, I have found re-enrolling some of my ebooks works effectively.

 

Time to exit Select, and the Amazon KDP Select rules changed!

I have exited KDP Select many times, and usually without any problems.

Once or twice I got my dates wrong.

I had a title or two available on Apple or B&N a few days before the expiry date.

This resulted in me getting a nasty email from Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

However, in the last few years, I have successfully set up my existing titles on Smashwords or Draft2Digital on pre-order.

I set it up for a week or two before my exclusivity expires, which has worked without a problem.

It ensures that the ebook will not be available to buy until after my KDP Select period expires.

 

It worked until it didn’t

When I exited the last time, I received one of the dreaded threatening emails from Amazon KDP Select.

We have found that book(s) you’ve published don’t meet the KDP Select content guidelines. Books enrolled in KDP Select must be exclusive to Amazon in digital format during the entirety of their enrollment in the program.

Our records indicate that we previously informed you that submitting non-exclusive content to KDP Select and may result in loss of KDP Select benefits, including participation in Kindle Unlimited, the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (KOLL) and the usage of Kindle Countdown Deals or free promotion days.
The next violation will result in your entire catalog being un-enrolled from KDPS and suspended from re-enrollment into the program.

I was perplexed and sent off a reply asking what the problem was.

The reply I received was the typical ‘cut and paste‘ of KDP FAQs.

As usual, it didn’t address my question at all. I tried again but got no reply.

Ah, the oxymoron of KDP Help! I would hate to be drowning.

So, I started to do some digging and came across a change to the Amazon KDP Select terms that caused my problem.

I had no idea when these terms changed.

Amazon issues update notices of changes by email, but who takes any notice?

But as a user, you are bound by them. Fair? Well, it doesn’t matter.

Amazon makes the rules and can change them at any time and does so.

 

Here are the new terms regarding exclusivity:

Exclusivity

When you enroll a book in KDP Select, you’re committing to making the digital format of that book available exclusively through KDP while it’s enrolled in the program.

All content enrolled in KDP Select must remain for sale through the Kindle Store only. If the digital version of your book appears to be available for sale or for free elsewhere (such as on your website or blog, or a third party’s website), then it is not eligible for KDP Select. Adding new content (such as bonus content, author’s commentary section, etc.) to a book that is available elsewhere will not satisfy the exclusivity requirements.

However, you may choose to make up to 10% of your book available on other sites as a sample, as well as continue to distribute your book in physical format (including print-on-demand books), or in any format other than digital. 

 

Here are the previous terms before the modification:

Exclusivity
When you choose KDP Select for a book, you’re committing to make the digital format of that book available exclusively through KDP during the entirety of its enrollment in the program.

All content made exclusive to Amazon in KDP Select must remain for sale on our site only; it cannot be available for free or for purchase in digital format anywhere else, including publishing the content of your book on the web, including on your own website, blog, etc.

However, you may choose to make up to 10% of your book available on other sites as a sample, as well as continue to distribute your book in physical format (including print-on-demand books), or in any format other than digital.

There is one very big change between the two versions.

Before: … it cannot be available for free or for purchase in digital format anywhere else.

Now: If the digital version of your book appears to be available for sale or for free elsewhere (such as on your website or blog or a third party’s website), then it is not eligible for KDP Select.

So, now I know why Amazon sent me the dreaded email. Because it changed the rules.

Before, an ebook on pre-order from another retailer was not available for purchase.

This was fine because it was within the KDP Select exclusivity rules.

But now, a pre-order appears to be available, which is not fine.

This is not the first time Amazon has changed the rules for KDP self-publishers, and it won’t be the last.

So never think that you know the rules with regard to book marketing with Amazon.

Because they are always subject to change and without notice.

 

Conclusion

If you plan to use a mix of exclusive and open publishing for your ebooks with Amazon and Draft2Digital or Smashwords, take care when moving your titles in and out.

When planning to enter into KDP Select, allow plenty of time to delist your titles from your aggregator’s retailers.

Also, check your KDP Select enrollment.

Remember to de-select the tick box unless you want to automatically renew at the end of your exclusivity after 90 days.

And lastly, perhaps check the terms and conditions, just to be sure.

 

Related Reading: Should I Stay In Amazon Kindle KDP Select Or Open Publish My Ebooks?

18 thoughts on “Amazon KDP Select Can Change Its Rules Without Giving You Notice”

  1. After a busy weekend of converting from Create Space to KDP, not Kindle Select, trsnsferring all four of my books, Amazon sent me a letter today terminating my account, citing misuse of metadata for my novel Virgin Soul.I wrote this novel which was published in a hardbound first edition by Viking in 2013. I published the hardback through ny indie press, EQUIDISTANCE, in 2016.

    The harsh letter said I would get none of the royalties due me prior to termination.

    All four EQUIDISTANCE titles have disappeared from Amazon.

    I am dumbfounded.
    Judy Juanita

    1. I am so sorry to hear your news. I must admit that I have never heard about the misuse of metadata, except in the case of KU ebook scammers. I hope you can contact Amazon and ask for more details.

    2. After several letters of inquiry, protest and explanation, Amazon relisted three of my press’ titles and apologized. The problem seems to have been with my novel in hb from Viking. I published it as a paperback with a slightly different title…that was fine. Trying to independently publish an e-book of my pb version of Viking’s hb was the sticking point. I concede that Viking has rights to the e-book of the original novel, not my press (Equidistance).

  2. Avatar for Lucinda E Clarke
    Lucinda E Clarke

    Uh, it’s a closed group but it shows your blog on there so you get full credit and I also mentioned you by name. (Plus i don’t know how to do a click back!)

  3. It amazes me that one can not tick a box enabling Amazon to send you a notification when Terms change. This would, I am sure be extremely easy for Amazon to implement and would make author’s lives much easier. Kevin

    1. Amazon could easily do it, of course. That it doesn’t is a sure sign that it prefers users not to know about the changes it makes. However, GDPR might make Amazon change its ways, eventually.

  4. Since 2012, the Amazon user agreement says,

    2.1 Changes to Agreement Terms Other than Those in Sections 5.4.1 (Royalties) and 5.5 (Grant of Rights). Changes to terms of this Agreement other than those contained in Section 5.4.1 (Royalties) and 5.5 (Grant of Rights) will be EFFECTIVE IN THE DAY WE POST THEM, unless we otherwise provide at the time we post the changes. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for checking for updates and your continued use of the Program after we post changes will constitute your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the changes, you must withdraw your Digital Books from further distribution through the Program and terminate your use of the Program.

  5. Thanks for the article — I am still on the fence regarding KDPS, so hearing first-hand experiences like this is useful and insightful. :)

  6. Avatar for Alissa Publishing
    Alissa Publishing

    Very Good Explanation. I’m sorry you were treated soroughly but these days that seems to be happening a lot. Don’t take it personal as hard as that may seem!

  7. Avatar for Denise N. Fyffe
    Denise N. Fyffe

    Amazon sends very nasty and abrasive emails. Not because they are giant means that they should squash everyone else. Its disheartening.

  8. Curious … I wonder if offering a free copy to a blogger in exchange for an honest review would violate the KDP Select terms. It is ‘free’ in the sense that no money changed hands but there is the labor-cost of writing the review. It would seem ironic that Amazon would forbid this practice, as a good review has the potential for boosting sales and thus increasing Amazon’s share of the take.

  9. Avatar for Nate Hoffelder, publisher of The Digital Reader
    Nate Hoffelder, publisher of The Digital Reader

    That’s not exactly new. I can find similar language in the FAQ from last September.

    1. I’m not sure the web archive is accurate, Nate. My original post on this topic was in October, and the terms I posted then were taken directly from KDP Select terms, so they were accurate. However, that is not the point of this advice post. It is that Amazon regularly change its KDP terms, without notice. This is a fact that all self-publishing authors should be made aware of.

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