KDP Account Terminated, Any Advice?

18 replies
Hello, I started uploading books to Kindle from the public domain about two weeks ago. everything was going along fine, however I did notice a lot of them weren't being approved so I was expecting a problem. I got 50 or so through the review process and they were making money! I got an email today saying my account has been terminated due to copyright infringement, I meant no harm and will be more careful in the future. There must be a way to get my account back. Please help. Thank you
#account #advice #kdp #terminated
  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    Did you seriously think that would work in the long run?
    Nobody here can help you get your account back, that's up to Amazon.
    Judging by other threads about the same topic it looks like your time as a publisher is done...
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    • Profile picture of the author research
      Originally Posted by salegurus View Post

      Did you seriously think that would work in the long run?
      Nobody here can help you get your account back, that's up to Amazon.
      Judging by other threads about the same topic it looks like your time as a publisher is done...
      Despite What Many Believe - Amazon Is Not The Only Publishing
      Game In Town. One Step Beyond - Amazon Publishing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Venturetothetop
    Originally Posted by Crixus72bc View Post

    I meant no harm
    Not physical harm perhaps... but stealing work and profiting from it was not such a clever idea. You lucky it's just a Amazon ban and not someone coming to sue you.

    Count yourself lucky and move on.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      You made two big mistakes here, it sounds like.

      1) Unless you were making substantial changes to these public domain works (like translations, illustrations, etc.), amazon closed the door on such things some time ago. You can still find, and it sounds like you might have, "get rich on Kindle" products advocating posting a bunch of PD books as fast as you can.

      2) Just because someone tells you something is in the public domain doesn't mean it is. Legally "public domain" has a very specific definition. And that definition isn't "visible to the public". Beyond that, even if the work itself is okay, grabbing an image or images that you don't have rights to will also land you in hot water.

      If you really want your account back, do your best mea culpa and ask for another chance. It's a long shot, but I've heard of it working.

      Oh, and there are going to be people offering advice on how to get around the ban - opening phony accounts, etc. Amazon will find these, too, and ban them when they do.
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      • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
        Don't waste a lot of time trying to get your kindle account back until you come up with a legitimate plan to come up with quality original content.

        Using the mea culpa as mentioned above will stand a better chance if you can show the ability to deliver quality original content.
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        Robin



        ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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  • Profile picture of the author bwh1
    Use your wifes details and start all over, this time the smart way according to Amazon's TOS.

    G.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Why are you asking this here? The only ones that can help you is Amazon.
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    • Profile picture of the author agmccall
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Why are you asking this here? The only ones that can help you is Amazon.
      It is all about post count

      al
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      "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

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    • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Why are you asking this here? The only ones that can help you is Amazon.
      Because someone might have advice on how to best approach Amazon.

      For example, most people don't know how to contact PayPal when their account is frozen. They would assume to simple email the AUP department but you should call and ask for "Executive Escalations."

      In some cases when a PayPal account is frozen you may be able to sign an affidavit that says you will follow the AUP and you understand it.

      Another example, I had my AdWords closed a few weeks go for repeat violation but I have never received a warning and haven't even ran an ad in OVER 5 years.

      Emailing Google get's a canned response everytime so if I ask here I may get some advice on what to do besides using the contact form on their site.

      There are A LOT of reasons to ask on forums before going to the source. Even for legal questions - provided you use the advice as research point only.

      Garrie
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      • Profile picture of the author research
        Originally Posted by GarrieWilson View Post

        Because someone might have advice on how to best approach Amazon.

        For example, most people don't know how to contact PayPal when their account is frozen. They would assume to simple email the AUP department but you should call and ask for "Executive Escalations."

        In some cases when a PayPal account is frozen you may be able to sign an affidavit that says you will follow the AUP and you understand it.

        Another example, I had my AdWords closed a few weeks go for repeat violation but I have never received a warning and haven't even ran an ad in OVER 5 years.

        Emailing Google get's a canned response everytime so if I ask here I may get some advice on what to do besides using the contact form on their site.

        There are A LOT of reasons to ask on forums before going to the source. Even for legal questions - provided you use the advice as research point only.

        Garrie
        >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


        Despite What Many Believe - Amazon Is Not The Only Publishing

        Game In Town. One Step Beyond - Amazon Publishing.


        >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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        • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
          You need to come up with something original that gets good reviews like:

          By Citizenfitz on December 21, 2010
          Format: Paperback
          I bought How to Avoid Huge Ships as a companion to Captain Trimmer's other excellent titles: How to Avoid a Train, and How to Avoid the Empire State Building. These books are fast paced, well written and the hard won knowledge found in them is as inspirational as it is informational. After reading them I haven't been hit by anything bigger than a diesel bus. Thanks captain!
          How to Avoid Huge Ships: John W. Trimmer:...How to Avoid Huge Ships: John W. Trimmer:...
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          Robin



          ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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          • Profile picture of the author bengirwb
            If something is in the public domain, you can use it since there is no copyright to violate.
            It is NOT stealing.
            However, Amazon does not want public domain unaltered. That is too easy.
            Instead, use the public domain work as a starting point. Do some rewriting, add illustrations, add other material, footnotes, etc.
            Then you have created "new" work which you can copyright.
            All that said, your Amazon account is still toast. Create a new account.
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  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    Advice: read the rules next time.
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    • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
      Yes do tell Amazon that you were unaware of the rules (read them next time) and ask to be reinstated. I know someone who just got their account back after a year so it can work. If it doesn't happen now try again in a few months.
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    They are getting more strict now. Being very careful pays now. I know a lady who likes to write romance. Well, she wrote a book about a woman who marries an abominable snow man. Well, they claim bestiality is against their term of service. Disney, watch out, the little mermaid seems suspicious to me. A mermaid marries a man. Like you also might get kicked out by spamazon.

    Here is my advice to you. Write like you live in a police state run by the gestapo of nazi germany. Well, nazis like to burn books, but spamazon erases em.
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    • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
      Originally Posted by seobro View Post

      They are getting more strict now. Being very careful pays now. I know a lady who likes to write romance. Well, she wrote a book about a woman who marries an abominable snow man. Well, they claim bestiality is against their term of service. Disney, watch out, the little mermaid seems suspicious to me. A mermaid marries a man. Like you also might get kicked out by spamazon.

      Here is my advice to you. Write like you live in a police state run by the gestapo of nazi germany. Well, nazis like to burn books, but spamazon erases em.
      Come on ....there are plenty of eBooks where there is a monster involved including Big Foot, Ab Snowman, Werewolfs, Vampires etc.
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      Pen Name + 8 eBooks + social media sites 4 SALE - PM me (evergreen beauty niche)

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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    I can't think of any reason why Amazon would let you back in. Let's be honest here - you were spamming the service, quickly uploading probably hundreds of works prepared by others where you were able to slip 50 through the review process. In the future, I'm guessing being more careful means doing the same but trying to not get caught with a copyright violation.

    A simple rule: if you didn't create it don't upload it

    .
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  • Profile picture of the author biz_online
    Originally Posted by Crixus72bc View Post

    Hello, I started uploading books to Kindle from the public domain about two weeks ago. everything was going along fine, however I did notice a lot of them weren't being approved so I was expecting a problem. I got 50 or so through the review process and they were making money! I got an email today saying my account has been terminated due to copyright infringement, I meant no harm and will be more careful in the future. There must be a way to get my account back. Please help. Thank you
    I understand your situation. There are lots of products that pitch using public domain and PLR as a Fast Way To Kindle Riches. I have seen a ton of PLR and public domain info on Kindle and even Amazon books. The TOS changed and while back disallowing this, but those products are still being touted as viable. They were years ago, but not anymore.

    You will need to learn some creative fiction writing or become an expert in the area of non-fiction. The easy way is to write about what you already know, either your area of expertise or personal experience.

    My opinion is that you need to forget about that account and move on. You will need to create a completely new account and move forward from the lesson learned. Best of luck.
    :rolleyes:
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