Amazon’s New DRM Change: More Convenience for Readers, More Risk for Authors
Amazon has announced a significant change coming to Kindle Direct Publishing that affects DRM-free ebooks.
What Amazon said (in plain English)
Beginning January 20, 2026, Amazon will allow new DRM-free Kindle titles to be downloadable by customers in EPUB and PDF formats for use on more devices and apps. If you do nothing, your existing titles don’t automatically change—but EPUB/PDF downloads won’t be enabled for your already-published DRM-free titles unless you take action (Amazon says you can do that on or after December 9 by selecting “No, do not apply DRM” and confirming the checkbox).
Why authors should take this seriously
This announcement is being framed as a reader-friendly move—and it is more convenient for readers. But the part Amazon doesn’t highlight is the obvious tradeoff:
EPUB and PDF are far easier to copy, convert, repost, scrape, and redistribute once they’re in the wild.
That doesn’t mean DRM “solves piracy” (it doesn’t—DRM can be removed and pirates pirate). But turning on easy downloadable EPUB/PDF files lowers the barrier for casual theft, mass reuploading, and automated scraping.
If you’re an author trying to protect revenue, pricing control, launch strategy, or exclusivity—this matters.
The decision isn’t “pro-reader vs anti-reader”
It’s risk management.
Some authors may want frictionless access because:
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They’re prioritizing reach over control (wide distribution goals).
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Their business model is speaking, coaching, funnels, or upsells.
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They’re using the book as marketing rather than primary income.
But if your ebook sales are a meaningful part of your income—or you’ve already dealt with piracy—handing out downloadable EPUB/PDF copies may not be worth the upside.
My recommendation to authors
Before you switch anything to DRM-free just to enable EPUB/PDF downloads, do this:
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Decide what you’re optimizing for: reach, revenue, or protection.
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Assume DRM is imperfect but still a speed bump that reduces casual copying.
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If you go DRM-free, research stronger alternatives (for example: watermarking, controlled distribution platforms, serialized delivery, bonus-driven funnels, or wide strategies that don’t rely on one retailer).
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Don’t make the decision based on Amazon’s framing alone. Their goal is frictionless consumption inside their ecosystem—not protecting your intellectual property.
What this signals bigger-picture
This change is another reminder that Amazon controls the rules—and those rules can shift quickly. Authors are treated like inventory suppliers, not partners. If you want long-term stability, the smartest move is building leverage outside Amazon: email list ownership, direct sales options, and diversified storefronts that respect creators and compensate them fairly.