Understanding KDP’s New DRM Policy: What Authors Need to Know About Piracy Risk
Starting January 20, 2026, Amazon KDP is implementing a significant policy change regarding Digital Rights Management. Verified purchasers will be able to download EPUB and PDF files of DRM-free books, giving them universal file formats that work on any device.
If you’re a Kindle Direct Publishing author, you need to understand this change and its piracy implications before the deadline.
What Changed?
Amazon’s new policy allows verified purchasers to download EPUB and PDF files. This means readers can legally download a copy of your book in universal formats that work on any device, any e-reader, anywhere.
Sounds customer-friendly, right? It is. It’s also a pirate’s dream.
Here’s What You Need to Know Right Now
The Critical Deadline: For any book you published before December 9, 2025 where you didn’t apply DRM, Amazon will NOT automatically provide the EPUB/PDF download option to readers. You must explicitly confirm this choice. If you do nothing, those books remain protected. If you confirm DRM-free status, every verified purchaser gets downloadable files starting January 20, 2026.
No Takebacks: Even if you apply DRM later, readers who already downloaded EPUB or PDF files when your book was DRM-free retain access to those files forever. You can’t take back files already in circulation.
Royalty Info: Amazon promises your royalty rates remain unchanged regardless of DRM selection.
DRM vs. DRM-Free: Understanding the Piracy Implications
The policy change provides readers with additional format options. However, it’s important to understand how file format accessibility affects piracy risk.
With DRM Applied:
- Readers access books only through Kindle apps and devices
- Files are encrypted and tied to the purchaser’s account
- Redistribution requires technical skills (screenshots, converters, DRM-cracking software)
- Each technical barrier reduces casual unauthorized sharing
- Most casual users lack the knowledge to bypass protections
Without DRM (DRM-Free):
- Readers download standard EPUB and PDF files
- Files work universally across all devices and e-reader applications
- No technical knowledge required to share or upload files
- One legitimate purchase can become unlimited unauthorized copies
- Files are ready for immediate upload to pirate sites in professional quality
When DRM-Free Might Make Sense
The indie author community loves debating DRM. “Readers hate it!” they cry. “It punishes legitimate customers!” Here’s the truth: most readers don’t know or care whether DRM exists. They buy your book, read it on their Kindle, and move on with their lives.
Consider DRM-free only if:
- You’re using books as loss leaders. Your primary income comes from high-ticket coaching, courses, or services. Books are marketing tools, not revenue generators. Making them easily sharable increases brand reach.
- You’re established with passive income. Your backlist generates consistent revenue from evergreen marketing. You can afford to experiment with one or two titles to test reader response.
- You have active anti-piracy protection. You’re already working with a service that monitors pirate sites, files DMCA takedowns, and actively protects your intellectual property. (This is where BookDefender comes in, but we’ll get to that.)
- You’re building a cult following. Your superfans evangelize your work. You want them sharing your books (legally purchased, of course) to build momentum. You’re playing the long game on word-of-mouth marketing.
For everyone else—especially full-time authors depending on book royalties to pay bills—DRM is your first line of defense.
Industry Research on DRM-Free Distribution
Multiple studies have examined the relationship between DRM-free distribution and unauthorized file sharing:
File Format Accessibility: Research indicates that books distributed in standard EPUB and PDF formats appear on pirate sites significantly faster than DRM-protected titles. The technical barrier of DRM removal, while not insurmountable, does slow the redistribution process.
Upload Patterns: Industry data shows that pirate sites prioritize easily shareable formats. DRM-free files require no conversion or processing before upload, making them more attractive for unauthorized distribution.
Consumer Behavior Studies: Studies on digital content sharing suggest that most unauthorized distribution comes from a small percentage of users who actively seek to share content, rather than average readers. However, ease of sharing does correlate with increased unauthorized distribution rates.
Important Consideration: These patterns don’t mean DRM-free distribution is automatically bad for business. Some authors strategically use DRM-free distribution as part of broader marketing approaches. The key is making informed decisions based on your specific situation and having appropriate protections in place.
How to Protect Yourself Right Now
If you haven’t already, take these steps today:
1. Review Your DRM Settings
Log into your KDP Bookshelf and check every single book. If you published before December 9, 2025, look for books marked DRM-free. Unless you have a compelling business reason to allow EPUB/PDF downloads, apply DRM immediately.
Steps to apply DRM:
- Click the ellipsis (…) next to each book
- Select “Edit eBook Content”
- Find “Digital Rights Management (DRM)” in the Manuscript section
- Choose “Yes, apply Digital Rights Management”
- Save and publish (changes take 24-72 hours)
2. Document Your Decisions
Screenshot your DRM settings for every book. If piracy explodes after January 20, 2026, you’ll want proof of your protection measures for potential legal action.
3. Set Up Monitoring
This is non-negotiable if you choose DRM-free for any titles. Your books will be pirated. The question is how quickly you catch it and shut it down.
DIY monitoring is exhausting:
- Daily Google searches for your titles + “free download” “PDF” “EPUB”
- Checking known pirate sites manually
- Filing DMCA takedown notices yourself
- Following up when sites ignore requests
- Repeating the process forever
Or work with professionals who do this for a living.
BookDefender specializes in exactly this problem. We monitor pirate sites 24/7, file takedowns on your behalf, and persistently pursue violations until your books are removed. This isn’t set-it-and-forget-it automation—it’s humans who understand piracy networks, know which sites ignore automated requests, and have relationships with hosting providers.
Making an Informed Decision
The new policy requires authors to actively choose their DRM settings with full awareness of the implications. Here’s a framework for making that decision:
Consider DRM Protection if:
- Your primary income depends on book royalties
- You’re building a sustainable full-time author career
- You haven’t yet established comprehensive anti-piracy monitoring
- You prefer to minimize potential unauthorized distribution
Consider DRM-Free Distribution if:
- You have active professional anti-piracy protection in place
- Books serve primarily as marketing tools for other revenue streams
- You’re strategically building reach through easier sharing
- You have resources to monitor and respond to piracy quickly
The Reality: Most readers purchase books, read them, and never think about file formats or DRM. The convenience factor matters to a small percentage of users. The piracy risk, however, affects your business regardless of reader preferences.
Bottom Line:
Choose DRM settings that align with your business model and risk tolerance. Confirm your settings before January 20, 2026. If you select DRM-free for strategic reasons, professional anti-piracy monitoring becomes essential rather than optional.
Action Steps Before January 20, 2026
- Review your KDP Bookshelf and confirm DRM settings on every title
- Make informed decisions about which protection level serves your business goals
- Document your choices for your records
- Implement monitoring if you choose DRM-free distribution
For authors who select DRM-free distribution, professional monitoring services can handle the time-consuming work of tracking pirate sites and filing takedown notices, allowing you to focus on writing.
Need help protecting your DRM-free books? Contact BookDefender for a consultation about monitoring and anti-piracy services tailored to professional authors.
BookDefender provides boutique anti-piracy protection for career authors. We monitor, identify, and eliminate unauthorized distribution of your books across the internet—so you can focus on writing the next bestseller.
