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Kindle and Public Domain

by Marhelper
15 replies
I love the religious classics and was wondering if Amazon would allow a slightly reworked (original intro, etc) classic to be sold as kindle ebook or have they stopped allowing that?
#domain #kindle #public
  • Profile picture of the author andybeveridge
    They are really hot on duplicate content these days. I published a series of blog post with a little editing to make them flow a little better, they were taken from a blog that I own and were all written by me. Amazon suspended my account until I could proof that it was my work.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      Originally Posted by andybeveridge View Post

      They are really hot on duplicate content these days. I published a series of blog post with a little editing to make them flow a little better, they were taken from a blog that I own and were all written by me. Amazon suspended my account until I could proof that it was my work.
      Gotcha, thanks for feedback. I thought public domain with some changes might fly but I guess they are over saturated with it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      Originally Posted by andybeveridge View Post

      They are really hot on duplicate content these days. I published a series of blog post with a little editing to make them flow a little better, they were taken from a blog that I own and were all written by me. Amazon suspended my account until I could proof that it was my work.
      Public domain and duplicate from copyrighted material are different animals.

      I just had a similar problem, but it ended up fast and easy - my account was never suspended though. To test the system I uploaded an ebook that I give away for free for promotional reasons. I did a second edition, with minor changes.

      They did not accept it and asked me to verify it was mine, and to give the detail of all the places I had posted the information. I gave them a review of the history of the ebook, and also told them I had no clue about all the places posted because it had give away rights.

      They thanked me for the prompt response and asked me to resubmit the second part (where you claim to own the copyright).

      A couple of hours later it was up and running:

      Empath Basics, Second Edition (Empath Zone...Empath Basics, Second Edition (Empath Zone...

      I think that the trick is to answer fast and be very clear with the communication, reassuring them that you own the copyright more than one time in the message. They are just covering their rear end.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
        Just add zombies. It worked for Seth Grahame-Smith.
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        • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
          Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

          Just add zombies. It worked for Seth Grahame-Smith.
          Zombies and vampires are getting old. I hear the next wave is cannibals. Why not, right?
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          • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
            Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

            Zombies and vampires are getting old. I hear the next wave is cannibals. Why not, right?
            Awesome! My next book, a short story collection, is going to have one story with cannibalism. Maybe this book will actually sell! Woohoo!
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  • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
    Originally Posted by Marhelper View Post

    I love the religious classics and was wondering if Amazon would allow a slightly reworked (original intro, etc) classic to be sold as kindle ebook or have they stopped allowing that?
    here are the guidelines:
    https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishi...A2OHLJURFVK57Q

    my take... they like it if it is not around yet, the more it is around the less they like it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Gram
    I'd be very careful with public domain on Amazon. Sandra has a good point on it a few posts above...if it's not already on Amazon then they'll probably be ok with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author TycoonRob
    PD stuff seems simple to pull off, but unless you are careful enough to not break any guidelines, you might be OK. Personally, I think it's just easier to create something new on my own.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      Originally Posted by BoomBlogger View Post

      PD stuff seems simple to pull off, but unless you are careful enough to not break any guidelines, you might be OK. Personally, I think it's just easier to create something new on my own.
      It all depends on the product. For example, the King American Dispensatory is huge. It can take all your life to get that info together.
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  • Profile picture of the author GuruGazette
    I weave public domain content into my work instead of having to worry about new changes that may come about on Amazon. That gives me exclusive and unique publications that I can earn the full 70% royalty on as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author SunilTanna
    I have a question about the reverse direction on amazon.

    What if I write my own text but use some public domain pictures? Thoughts anyone?
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  • Profile picture of the author J Bold
    Think Pride and Prejudice: Zombies, if you are thinking about public domain. Like that book, it's got to be seriously altered from the original so you make it your own. Most people who try will not alter it enough. Most of the old classics are already on Kindle for free as they are public domain, now. Kindle only wants one of each.

    Pay attention to the percentages, too. Even if you are doing some serious altering to the work like inserting zombies into a classic story, there's a certain percentage of originality they want.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Bridgen
    You will find that kindle has stopped people just getting books from the public domain and putting to kindle to overcome this problem they only let in 1 Books that are not in kindle (hard to find) or books that have been changed over 50% also the title has been changed I just done a course on public domain and kindle hope this helps
    Robert
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