Amazon is changing how copyright protection works for self-published e-books on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), a move that could significantly alter how authors distribute and protect their digital titles.
Beginning January 20, 2026, authors who choose to publish DRM-free e-books through KDP will see their titles made available not only in Kindle formats but also as downloadable EPUB and PDF files. Amazon says the update is intended to give readers greater flexibility in how they access content they have purchased, particularly across different devices and reading platforms.
Digital Rights Management, or DRM, is a copyright protection tool that limits how digital content can be copied, shared, or transferred. On Amazon’s self-publishing platform, the decision to apply DRM has always rested with the author, rather than being automatically imposed by the company.
Amazon confirmed that the new policy will apply only to newly published titles going forward. Previously published e-books will remain unchanged unless authors manually update their DRM settings through the KDP author dashboard. According to Amazon, once an author updates the setting, it can take up to 72 hours for the changes to appear on Amazon.com.
Potential Shift in Author Behaviour
While Amazon frames the update as reader-friendly, some authors see unintended consequences. By allowing DRM-free titles to be downloaded as EPUB or PDF—formats that are easily shared and widely compatible—some writers fear increased piracy and unauthorized distribution.
Discussion on Amazon’s KDP Community forums suggests the policy could push more authors toward enabling DRM rather than removing it. One author noted that while DRM had previously been left off to allow household sharing across devices, the option to download a book as a PDF raised new concerns about uncontrolled file sharing.
Other authors argue the change makes little practical difference, pointing out that DRM-free Kindle files could already be converted into other formats using third-party software. From that perspective, the update merely formalizes a capability that already existed for technically inclined users.
Broader Kindle DRM Controversy
The announcement arrives amid mounting criticism of Amazon’s broader DRM strategy. In recent months, the company introduced a new DRM system for 11th- and 12th-generation Kindle devices that prevents users from backing up purchased e-books without modifying their devices. That change followed the removal of USB download and transfer options, a decision that drew backlash from longtime Kindle owners.
Critics argue that while Amazon is promoting openness for DRM-free titles, its ecosystem overall has become more restrictive for readers who want to archive or move their libraries independently.
For authors, the update presents a trade-off between accessibility and control. As digital publishing continues to evolve, Amazon’s revised DRM rules may reshape how independent writers balance reader convenience with copyright protection in an increasingly open digital landscape.
