People forget that anything written and put up on the Internet is considered “published.” It leads to all sorts of legal tangles, but this situation is ridiculous. The worst is the author’s inability to discuss the problem with a HUMAN.
The exclusivity only applies while enrolled on KDP select (3 months). You can keep your book on Kindle and have it everywhere else as long as it’s not enrolled on KDP select. It is clearly stated in the rules.
Seems only to apply to KDP Select, not all of KDP. And small excerpts, a paragraph or so, are fine on Select. All Amazon does in a case like that is notify the author and ask them to double check the rights. I had that happen with my first title. I don’t know why anyone would try to put a collection of blog posts on Select in the first place. Those aren’t “excerpts,” they’re the full text of the articles. This author didn’t read the rules and is now upset about Amazon’s stated policy.
I saw this post and was a little concerned about not being able to publish excerpts. This is what I found on the KDP FAQ page: “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…” So it appears that limited excerpts are safe.
That’s good information Diana – My concern was that authors might get the issues that Seumas had – so wanted them to be made aware of said potential issues 😀
I am disgusted by this whole thing. Amazon needs to wake up to themselves. I am not on KDP for reasons like this. None of my books are now exclusive to Amazon. Amazon themselves have “stolen” my intellectual property. Here’s how. I was “gifting” my books to people in good faith, spending my own money at Amazon in the process, only to find people were returning my books and spending the money on other items on Amazon. This was admitted by Amazon via email. They said it is part of their policy that people may return items and buy something else with the money. Whose money? MINE! I vented my frustration and told them in no uncertain terms that it was tantamount to theft. If not intellectual property theft, then certainly financial theft. How dare they threaten us struggling authors who they suck dry at every turn. This is BLOODY WAR! Watch your back Amazon. I know where you live. Well maybe not where you live, but if I use my nose I can follow the stench of your poo all the way to the sewage works. I really am enraged btw and not even kidding.
Got my attention Chris. Many co-bloggers ask for Excerpts, so I read this article with trepidation. I use multiple e-book platforms so the Amazon KDP select doesn’t effect me, but it is something others might not realise. Your friend Seumas should be flattered Amazon took the time to find his work published elsewhere 🙂
I don’t understand nor see the point. One thing is KDP, another thing is KDP Select. Matters not whether the material is on the author’s blog or anywhere else. KDP Select is for material that is available online ONLY on Amazon. What’s so outrageous? It’s a special program, their rules, their games. You like them, you participate, you don’t like them? It is pointless—and frankly weird—to state that they should follow other rules.
That’s the point Massimo – it’s Amazon rules – so if an author is using KDP they need to be aware that they should not post any of their KDP work on their blogs or elsewhere…
Mind, not KDP, but KDP Select. Before getting a book in there, Amazon makes you read the rules and acknowledge them. If one clicks without reading… well, a writer not reading? LOL
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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People forget that anything written and put up on the Internet is considered “published.” It leads to all sorts of legal tangles, but this situation is ridiculous. The worst is the author’s inability to discuss the problem with a HUMAN.
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Indeed…
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Reblogged this on American Writers Exposed and commented:
Well this is an eye-opener! Bloggers Beware!
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The exclusivity only applies while enrolled on KDP select (3 months). You can keep your book on Kindle and have it everywhere else as long as it’s not enrolled on KDP select. It is clearly stated in the rules.
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Thanks Maricel 😀
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Seems only to apply to KDP Select, not all of KDP. And small excerpts, a paragraph or so, are fine on Select. All Amazon does in a case like that is notify the author and ask them to double check the rights. I had that happen with my first title. I don’t know why anyone would try to put a collection of blog posts on Select in the first place. Those aren’t “excerpts,” they’re the full text of the articles. This author didn’t read the rules and is now upset about Amazon’s stated policy.
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I saw this post and was a little concerned about not being able to publish excerpts. This is what I found on the KDP FAQ page: “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…” So it appears that limited excerpts are safe.
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That’s good information Diana – My concern was that authors might get the issues that Seumas had – so wanted them to be made aware of said potential issues 😀
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Yikes!!!
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I am disgusted by this whole thing. Amazon needs to wake up to themselves. I am not on KDP for reasons like this. None of my books are now exclusive to Amazon. Amazon themselves have “stolen” my intellectual property. Here’s how. I was “gifting” my books to people in good faith, spending my own money at Amazon in the process, only to find people were returning my books and spending the money on other items on Amazon. This was admitted by Amazon via email. They said it is part of their policy that people may return items and buy something else with the money. Whose money? MINE! I vented my frustration and told them in no uncertain terms that it was tantamount to theft. If not intellectual property theft, then certainly financial theft. How dare they threaten us struggling authors who they suck dry at every turn. This is BLOODY WAR! Watch your back Amazon. I know where you live. Well maybe not where you live, but if I use my nose I can follow the stench of your poo all the way to the sewage works. I really am enraged btw and not even kidding.
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Got my attention Chris. Many co-bloggers ask for Excerpts, so I read this article with trepidation. I use multiple e-book platforms so the Amazon KDP select doesn’t effect me, but it is something others might not realise. Your friend Seumas should be flattered Amazon took the time to find his work published elsewhere 🙂
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It can happen to any author, new or seasoned Fiona.
All I can do is make authors aware of this potential problem – the rest is up to them…
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The moment you put a work on Amazon KDP Select, the search engines starts looking for you. Sooner or later they find you. Guaranteed 🙂
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Absolutely…
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I don’t understand nor see the point. One thing is KDP, another thing is KDP Select. Matters not whether the material is on the author’s blog or anywhere else. KDP Select is for material that is available online ONLY on Amazon. What’s so outrageous? It’s a special program, their rules, their games. You like them, you participate, you don’t like them? It is pointless—and frankly weird—to state that they should follow other rules.
Puzzled.
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That’s the point Massimo – it’s Amazon rules – so if an author is using KDP they need to be aware that they should not post any of their KDP work on their blogs or elsewhere…
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Mind, not KDP, but KDP Select. Before getting a book in there, Amazon makes you read the rules and acknowledge them. If one clicks without reading… well, a writer not reading? LOL
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Happens all the time in their rush to publish Massimo…
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Never rush to publish. You end up publishing a rushed work 😉
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As Well 😀
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