KDP Asked Me to Prove My Publishing Rights: What Do I Send?

KDP asks you to prove your publishing rights when it can’t tell that you hold them. The email says what it doubts. Reply to that email before the deadline, with documents that fit your case. The copyright page in your book is not enough: KDP’s rights FAQ says it “is not sufficient to prove that you hold the necessary publishing rights.”

Below is what KDP’s page says to send in each case, what to do if you wrote the book yourself, and what happens after you reply.

What does KDP want me to send?

It depends on why you are being asked. KDP’s page lists these cases for authors:

If you first need the rights back, see how to get your book rights back. If a publisher once sold your book and you are republishing it yourself, I walk through the whole process in how to self-publish a book a publisher used to sell.

Send the documents the way that email tells you to, not by a new message to somebody else. KDP’s page says it can’t accept documentation unless it has asked for it, so wait for that email.

What if I wrote the book myself and never published it anywhere?

That is not one of KDP’s listed cases, and I won’t pretend the page covers it. It happens, though, and the email can still arrive.

This is my advice, not a KDP rule: send what shows you made the book. Dated drafts, the original files, and emails with an editor or cover designer are what most authors have. Send copies, never alter a document, and keep your reply short and calm.

Can I self-publish my thesis if it is already online?

Maybe, but KDP’s rule is the first thing to read. Its content guidelines say it won’t accept content under copyright that is freely available on the web unless the copyright owner provides it, and that making sure your content doesn’t break copyright is the author’s job. In Book Details, KDP’s rights page says to choose “I own the copyright and I hold the necessary publishing rights” only if you hold the rights for the content.

This is my advice, not a KDP rule. Before you upload, check what you agreed when you deposited the thesis. The university, or the place that holds it online, may have rights or rules of its own, so ask them if you aren’t sure. Expect KDP may ask for proof, as in the table above, and keep the deposit details ready. If you are writing for readers outside academia, a shorter rewrite with a new title is usually the better book.

This isn’t legal advice.

What if someone filed a claim against my book?

Reply through the same email with the evidence that the book is yours. The same advice applies: dates, original files and any agreements.

If you are the one whose book was copied, KDP’s page tells you to follow the notice procedure for the Amazon site where you found the copy. It links to Amazon’s infringement report page. I tell my own story, and how I answered, in someone stole my book. Amazon restored my book after I sent the dates.

How long does it take?

KDP says it “usually” responds within five business days of receiving your documents. After approval, allow up to 48 hours for the book’s page to appear on Amazon.

What happens if I don’t answer?

KDP’s content guidelines say that if it removes a title it lets the author know, and the author can appeal. Don’t count on that. Answer before the deadline, since a reply is faster than an appeal. If the book is already blocked, see what to do when KDP blocks your book.

This is not legal advice, and KDP’s page says the same. If you have a contract with a publisher, or someone has made a claim against you, talk to a lawyer.

Want a second pair of eyes on the email?

If the email is vague and the deadline is close, book a free 25-minute call. We can read it together and sort out what to send.

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