If you’re a self-published author, you most likely use Amazon KDP and Ingram Spark, among other publishing companies, to print and distribute your books.
I noticed the change in the DRM button as I’ve been preparing for my first release of 2026 but didn’t know it was a big thing amongst readers and authors! I can see both sides but ya… as an author I’d prefer for people to not just be able to download my book and do whatever they want with it. It’s all very discouraging… especially the royalties and KDP using AI. I don’t make very much as an author in general and it puts me in a rough position cus what I do make is primarily through KU but also I don’t necessary agree with a lot of what Amazon is implementing… Its just rough
I honestly understand where you're coming from. It's such a frustrating position to be in. Especially with the AI concerns. There's just so much happening all at once for indie authors right now. Hopefully we can find better ways to publish in the future.
Thanks for giving your honest look into the DRM debate. I've been on the fence about it because I feel very strongly about piracy like you do. My husband, however, is firmly in the reader's camp. This is because he found out that changing file formats of something you have bought is actually protected by LAW (see the Supreme Court case that allowed people to record TV and transfer DVDs to computers), as long as you don't distribute them. And with Amazon books, it's increasingly becoming like buying a license to read something, versus actually buying it, with Amazon's ability to just....yoink books from devices without telling anyone. From my husband's perspective, stripping a DRM to transfer the book to his Kobo is an assurance that he can still keep his copy that he has bought and it's legal. Many times, these books he wants aren't available on Kobo, they're only available through Amazon. And my husband really wants to support indie authors! If he could get away from Amazon entirely, he would. But at the present moment, that's impossible.
I have voiced my own concerns to him about DRM but I never had the author's perspective to back me up. So thank you for that again! But I feel you should also hear from a reader who DOES benefit from increased freedom from DRM and why Amazon has suddenly allowed this.
I can 100% get where your husband is coming from. As a reader myself, these things did come to mind when I first heard of the DRM changes on the author side of things. However, after I did some look into it, I know that while your husband as a reader and myself as a reader would never distribute the book illegally, there are too many people who would. And despite the protections that exist, even from the highest court of law, the enforcement of said protections will be extremely hard when a lot of the people who pirate can't entirely be traced back to. And even if it is possible (of course it is, everyone has a digital footprint of sorts) there is always going to be something far more important to the government officials than catching book pirates. So at the end of the day, while I understand the side of the good-natured reader, there are far too many who are not good-natured. When it comes to being concerned about books being wiped from Amazon or kindle, I do think if there is a concern for that, that is just a sign to buy a physical copy. Obviously, not always possible and I understand that as well.
Amazon is a tricky beast for authors and readers alike. One day, I hope there is a solution that may help all of us, but until then, this is the hand we're dealt with. I think there are going to be plenty of authors, regardless of pirates, who allow for downloads of their books, though. I think it comes down to personal choice. I know I will not be one of those authors, for the safety of my books. It's bad enough that having my books on Kindle means they will be read and scanned for AI uses.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this update! It's insane trying to keep up with the changing world of publishing and author-ing, and trying to figure out where I stand and what I want to do, all before even having a published book. 😅 I've always been wary of ku and amazon and wasn't sure how much I'd be participating in that selling sphere once my book does come out, but now I feel even more so. And yet, like you said, I know that's where smaller authors make most of their royalties! It's all so complicated... I really appreciate your insight though, and I hope you find a solution that is both beneficial to your sales and protects your amazing work.💜
It can honestly be really hard to figure out how to go about the publishing process, especially when there aren't a great list of places for Indie authors. Despite the downsides of Ingram Spark, I do get a lot of international readers from other online sources which is where I get more royalties at the moment.
But I know of a lot of authors pulling from Amazon for pretty much giving the control to people who would like to steal and pirate. It can be disheartening, but I hope you find what will work best for you. Good luck! 🩷
Thank you for writing this. I am sorry that you make so little money from your books and am sure most people do not realize authors make hardly anything. Piracy is awful.
thank YOU for reading! I think there is quite the stigma that authors make a ton of money. And sure, some do actually make a ton of money, but there is so much more to it than that. Piracy is the scum of the Earth. I just hope to bring awareness to it! <3 <3
I noticed the change in the DRM button as I’ve been preparing for my first release of 2026 but didn’t know it was a big thing amongst readers and authors! I can see both sides but ya… as an author I’d prefer for people to not just be able to download my book and do whatever they want with it. It’s all very discouraging… especially the royalties and KDP using AI. I don’t make very much as an author in general and it puts me in a rough position cus what I do make is primarily through KU but also I don’t necessary agree with a lot of what Amazon is implementing… Its just rough
I honestly understand where you're coming from. It's such a frustrating position to be in. Especially with the AI concerns. There's just so much happening all at once for indie authors right now. Hopefully we can find better ways to publish in the future.
Thanks for giving your honest look into the DRM debate. I've been on the fence about it because I feel very strongly about piracy like you do. My husband, however, is firmly in the reader's camp. This is because he found out that changing file formats of something you have bought is actually protected by LAW (see the Supreme Court case that allowed people to record TV and transfer DVDs to computers), as long as you don't distribute them. And with Amazon books, it's increasingly becoming like buying a license to read something, versus actually buying it, with Amazon's ability to just....yoink books from devices without telling anyone. From my husband's perspective, stripping a DRM to transfer the book to his Kobo is an assurance that he can still keep his copy that he has bought and it's legal. Many times, these books he wants aren't available on Kobo, they're only available through Amazon. And my husband really wants to support indie authors! If he could get away from Amazon entirely, he would. But at the present moment, that's impossible.
I have voiced my own concerns to him about DRM but I never had the author's perspective to back me up. So thank you for that again! But I feel you should also hear from a reader who DOES benefit from increased freedom from DRM and why Amazon has suddenly allowed this.
I can 100% get where your husband is coming from. As a reader myself, these things did come to mind when I first heard of the DRM changes on the author side of things. However, after I did some look into it, I know that while your husband as a reader and myself as a reader would never distribute the book illegally, there are too many people who would. And despite the protections that exist, even from the highest court of law, the enforcement of said protections will be extremely hard when a lot of the people who pirate can't entirely be traced back to. And even if it is possible (of course it is, everyone has a digital footprint of sorts) there is always going to be something far more important to the government officials than catching book pirates. So at the end of the day, while I understand the side of the good-natured reader, there are far too many who are not good-natured. When it comes to being concerned about books being wiped from Amazon or kindle, I do think if there is a concern for that, that is just a sign to buy a physical copy. Obviously, not always possible and I understand that as well.
Amazon is a tricky beast for authors and readers alike. One day, I hope there is a solution that may help all of us, but until then, this is the hand we're dealt with. I think there are going to be plenty of authors, regardless of pirates, who allow for downloads of their books, though. I think it comes down to personal choice. I know I will not be one of those authors, for the safety of my books. It's bad enough that having my books on Kindle means they will be read and scanned for AI uses.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this update! It's insane trying to keep up with the changing world of publishing and author-ing, and trying to figure out where I stand and what I want to do, all before even having a published book. 😅 I've always been wary of ku and amazon and wasn't sure how much I'd be participating in that selling sphere once my book does come out, but now I feel even more so. And yet, like you said, I know that's where smaller authors make most of their royalties! It's all so complicated... I really appreciate your insight though, and I hope you find a solution that is both beneficial to your sales and protects your amazing work.💜
It can honestly be really hard to figure out how to go about the publishing process, especially when there aren't a great list of places for Indie authors. Despite the downsides of Ingram Spark, I do get a lot of international readers from other online sources which is where I get more royalties at the moment.
But I know of a lot of authors pulling from Amazon for pretty much giving the control to people who would like to steal and pirate. It can be disheartening, but I hope you find what will work best for you. Good luck! 🩷
Thank you for writing this. I am sorry that you make so little money from your books and am sure most people do not realize authors make hardly anything. Piracy is awful.
thank YOU for reading! I think there is quite the stigma that authors make a ton of money. And sure, some do actually make a ton of money, but there is so much more to it than that. Piracy is the scum of the Earth. I just hope to bring awareness to it! <3 <3