We’ve all heard the argument that pirating books doesn’t hurt authors. That the people who pirate ebooks wouldn’t have bought the author’s ebook anyway, so it’s not a lost sale. Regardless if you agree or not, pirating books can indeed hurt authors – particularly those who rely on Kindle Direct Publishing’s (KDP) Kindle Unlimited program. With every illegally downloaded ebook, these authors lose out on potential income that could have been earned if it had been purchased through official channels.
What Makes Kindle Unlimited Perfect for Book Lovers
Did you know that Kindle Unlimited is the perfect way for book lovers to save money on their next great read? With this subscription service, readers can access an immense library of titles and check out up to 20 ebooks at once. And best yet, when they’re done reading one title, it can be electronically returned to KU, and another can be “checked out.” It’s sort of like a library but with a monthly fee.
If you’re a bookworm and read a lot every month, you know KU can be a huge money saver. The program benefits readers who are on a budget tremendously.
Pirating Hurts Authors in Kindle Unlimited
In order for an author to enroll their books in Kindle Unlimited, they’re required to agree to terms of service (TOS). it restricts how much content is available for free – usually around 10%. Moreover, while enrolled in KU, an author’s book cannot be listed anywhere else on the web as either a paid or complimentary download. Authors cannot have their titles listed for sale or for free anywhere else on the web while enrolled in KU. This includes illegal pirate sites.
You might be thinking to yourself that if an ebook is being pirated, KDP will understand that isn’t the author’s fault or doing. That they’ll make exceptions. No. That isn’t the case. Notifications can be issued to authors, letting authors know they are violating the TOS. They are often given a few days to correct this issue or risk not being paid/ having their accounts closed/limited unless the issue is addressed swiftly.
How to Protect Your Ebooks and Kindle Unlimited Account
For authors, the threat of piracy is real and can turn into a big problem if left ignored. Take every necessary step to safeguard your hard-earned writings; it’s time for proactive protection!
For tips on copyright registration, visit: Reedsy How to Copyright a Book
For tips on DMCA takedown notices, visit: How to Send a DMCA Takedown Notice
To sign up for DMCA takedown services from BookDefender, which can save you time and protect your privacy, visit here: Sign Up for Service
