Amazon KDP Terms and Conditions 2026: Complete Guide for Authors & Publishers

The Amazon KDP Terms and Conditions are the binding legal agreement between you (the author or publisher) and the various Amazon companies worldwide. It governs your participation in the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) self-publishing program. Understanding this document in 2026 is crucial for protecting your rights, ensuring you get paid correctly, and avoiding account suspension or content removal. This guide is for all authors and publishers, from first-timers to seasoned professionals, who use Amazon KDP to distribute eBooks and paperbacks.

Overview of the Amazon KDP Program

As per the agreement, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a self-publication and distribution program. It allows you to distribute two types of content:

• Digital Books: eBooks for Kindle.
• Print Books: Physical books printed on demand (paperbacks and hardcovers, referred to collectively as “Books”).

The agreement is not a single document but consists of:

• The core terms and conditions.
• The Digital Book Pricing Page and Print Book Pricing Page.
• All Program Policies on the KDP website.
• The Amazon.com Conditions of Use.
• The Amazon.com Privacy Notice (with specific regional variations).

Eligibility & Account Requirements

Who can use KDP?
You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority where you live, whichever is older) and able to form a legally binding contract. A parent or guardian can open an account for a minor.

Account Rules:

• You may maintain only one account at a time.
• All information you provide (legal name, address, payment details, etc.) must be accurate and kept up-to-date.
• Amazon may require additional information to verify your identity or business before you can start or continue receiving payments.
• You are solely responsible for all activities under your account, even unauthorized ones, and may be liable for Amazon’s losses due to such activities.
• If your account is terminated, you agree not to open a new one.

Content Ownership & Publishing Rights

Who owns the content?
You retain ownership of the copyrights and all rights to your Books, subject to the licenses you grant to Amazon.

Rights granted to Amazon:
You grant each Amazon party a non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to:

• Reproduce, store, reformat, and convert your Books.
• Distribute, sell, and market your Books through all Amazon platforms (“Amazon Properties”).
• Allow customers to store and re-download purchased eBooks.
• Use your book’s cover, description, and metadata for marketing.
• Permit Amazon’s affiliates and contractors to exercise these rights.

Exclusivity vs. Non-Exclusivity:

• The standard KDP agreement is non-exclusive. You can publish your book elsewhere.
• Exclusivity is required only if you enroll a Digital Book in the optional KDP Select program. During the enrollment period, you cannot sell or distribute that eBook digitally anywhere else.

Content Guidelines & Prohibited Content

You must ensure your Book complies with Program Policies at the time of submission. Key rules from the agreement include:

• Prohibited Content: You may not include content primarily intended to advertise or promote other products or services.
• Quality & Compliance: Content must not infringe on any intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights, contain defamatory material, or violate any laws.
• Metadata Rules: All metadata (title, author name, description, keywords) must be current, complete, and accurate. You must promptly correct inaccurate metadata.
• Amazon’s Rights: Amazon can remove or modify your metadata, book description, or cover art if you do not comply with content requirements.
• Consequences: Violations can lead to book removal, withholding of royalties, and account suspension or termination.

Royalties, Pricing & Payments

Royalty Calculation:
Royalties are outlined in the separate Digital Book Pricing Page and Print Book Pricing Page. They are paid net of refunds, bad debt, and applicable taxes. If your set List Price is higher than permitted, Amazon can deem it modified to the maximum allowed price for royalty calculations.

Pricing Rules:

• You provide a List Price. For some markets, this includes VAT.
• Amazon has sole and complete discretion to set the final retail customer price.
• Amazon may convert your List Price to other currencies at its determined exchange rate.
• Minimum and maximum List Prices apply.

Payment Schedule:
Royalties are paid approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which the sale was made, unless specified otherwise in the Pricing Pages.

Tax Responsibilities:

• Amazon is responsible for taxes on its sales to customers.
• You are responsible for any income or other taxes due on the payments you receive from Amazon. Amazon may withhold taxes from your payments as required.

Printing, Distribution & Availability

• Print Books: Amazon prints on demand and may also hold inventory. Upon termination, Amazon may continue to sell its existing inventory of your Print Books.
• Digital Books: Amazon maintains digital copies to provide access and re-downloads to customers who purchased them, even after you withdraw a book or terminate your account.
• Withdrawal: You can withdraw Digital Books from sale and Print Books from on-demand printing with 5 business days’ notice. Withdrawals apply only to future sales.
• Geographic Limits: The license is worldwide unless you use a specific Amazon procedure to indicate limited distribution rights for a Digital Book.

Author Responsibilities

You represent, warrant, and agree that:

• You have the full right and authority to enter into this agreement.
• You own or have obtained all necessary rights for the content you submit.
• Your content does not infringe on any third-party rights or violate any laws.
• You are solely responsible for paying any co-authors or contributors their share of royalties.
• You will indemnify (legally defend and cover losses for) Amazon against any claims or losses arising from your breach of these obligations.

Amazon’s Rights & Limitations

Amazon’s Rights:

• To reject, remove, or suspend distribution of any Book at its sole discretion.
• To terminate or suspend your account if you breach the agreement or applicable laws.
• To modify your Books to correct errors or for formatting.

Limitation of Liability (Plain English Explanation):
The agreement states that the KDP program is provided “AS IS.” Amazon specifically disclaims all warranties. Amazon’s total liability to you under the agreement is limited to the amount of royalties it paid you in the 12 months before the claim. Amazon will not be liable for lost profits, data, or any indirect or consequential damages. The agreement explicitly states Amazon cannot guarantee protection against theft, misuse, or that its complex systems will be error-free, and it accepts no liability for system failures.

Account Suspension, Termination & Appeals

Common Reasons for Termination/Suspension:

• Breach of the agreement or applicable laws.
• Concerns regarding your account activity.
• Providing inaccurate or fraudulent information.

What Happens After Termination:

• Amazon will cease selling your Digital Books and on-demand Print Books within 5 business days.
• Amazon may continue to sell existing Print Book inventory.
• Amazon may fulfill pending customer orders and maintain digital copies for prior purchasers.
• You may forfeit all unpaid royalties if terminated for breach of your representations or content guidelines.

Appeal Process:
The agreement states Amazon will notify you upon termination and provide instructions on how to appeal if you believe the termination is in error. The specific appeal procedure is not detailed in the provided PDF.

Updates & Changes to Terms (2026)

How Amazon Updates Terms:
Amazon reserves the right to change the terms. They will notify you by:

1. Posting new terms on the KDP website.
2. Email to your registered address.
3. Posting in the KDP Community Forum.
4. Posting a banner in the KDP portal.
5. Other reasonable means.

For changes to Royalties (Section 5.4.1) or Grant of Rights (Section 5.5), they will use two or more of the above methods.

Your Responsibility & Effective Dates:

• You are responsible for checking for updates.
• For most changes: Effective on the date posted/sent.
• For Royalty/Grant of Rights changes: Effective 30 days from posting OR when you accept them, whichever comes first.
• If you do not agree to changes, you must immediately withdraw your Books and terminate your use of the program.

Important Things Authors Must Remember

• Read the Pricing Pages: Your royalty rate depends on your choices and compliance with separate Digital and Print Book Pricing Pages.
• Accuracy is Key: Provide accurate personal, tax, and metadata information. Inaccurate data can delay or prevent payments.
• You Hold the Liability: You are legally responsible for ensuring your content doesn’t infringe copyright or break laws.
• Amazon Controls Price & Marketing: They set the final customer price and have no obligation to market your book.
• Withholding is Allowed: Amazon can withhold royalties for refunds, claims of infringement, or investigations into fraudulent activity.
• Opt-In Exclusivity: You are only exclusive to Amazon if you choose the KDP Select program for a specific eBook.
• Stay Informed: Terms can change. Not checking notifications is not an excuse.

FAQs

Disclaimer

This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is a summary and explanation of the official Amazon KDP Terms and Conditions and is not a substitute for the legal document itself. The author of this article is not affiliated with Amazon.com, Inc. For complete and definitive terms, all authors and publishers must read and understand the full Amazon KDP Terms and Conditions PDF and related program policies directly from Amazon’s website.