BACKGROUND

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows authors to retain the rights to their original works. However, authors currently do not have a clear, explicit way to opt out of their books being accessed, analyzed, or used in connection with artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

We are authors and rights holders who publish through Amazon KDP. We support innovation, but innovation must be built on transparency, consent, and respect for creative labor.

At present, KDP authors lack meaningful control over whether their copyrighted books may be used for AI-related purposes. This absence of choice raises serious concerns about intellectual property rights, ethical use of creative work, and author autonomy.

SOLUTION
We call on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing to:

• Add a clear, visible opt-out option in the KDP dashboard that allows authors to prevent AI access, analysis, or training on their books
• Provide plain-language disclosure explaining if and how KDP titles may be used in AI systems
• Allow title-by-title control, so authors can decide on a per-book basis
• Guarantee that opting out will not affect royalties, discoverability, or publishing eligibility
• Commit to author consent and advance notice for any future AI-related policy changes

WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Authors are not datasets. Books represent years of labor, creativity, and personal investment. Many authors, particularly independent and small-press writers, rely on KDP as their primary publishing platform and deserve clear choices about how their work is used.

An opt-out option would:

• Respect authors’ intellectual property rights
• Build trust between Amazon and the KDP author community
• Set an ethical standard for AI development in publishing

OUR MESSAGE TO AMAZON
We value the opportunities Amazon KDP provides, but partnership requires mutual respect. Giving authors control over AI access to their work is not a barrier to innovation; it is a foundation for responsible innovation. If this option cannot be achieved, then KDP publishing will face a huge loss in the amount of people who utilize thier services and order their books.

We urge Amazon KDP to act now and give authors a clear choice.

If you are an author, reader, or supporter of ethical publishing, please sign and share this petition. Author voices deserve to be heard!