How to Prevent Your Book from Being Pirated (and What to Do If It Happens)

How to Prevent Your Book from Being Pirated (and What to Do If It Happens)

Book piracy isn’t just an issue for big-name authors—it affects all writers, especially self-published and indie authors who rely on book sales for income. Some argue that piracy increases exposure, but the reality is that it can hurt your career in multiple ways.

The Negative Impact of Piracy

📉 Lost Sales & Royalties – Every illegal download means one less potential purchase.

💸 Devaluation of Your Work – When people can get your book for free, they may be less likely to pay for it.

📊 Lack of Reader Engagement – Pirated copies don’t contribute to sales rankings, reviews, or mailing list growth.

🔄 Unauthorized Edits & Distribution – Some pirated books are modified, repackaged, or even sold under different titles, damaging your reputation.

🌎 Wider Spread Over Time – Once your book appears on one piracy site, it can be copied and uploaded to multiple others.

Because of these risks, prevention is key. Let’s go over how to protect your book before it gets pirated.

How to Prevent Your Book from Being Pirated

While piracy is hard to stop completely, there are several effective ways to make it harder for pirates to steal and distribute your book.

1. Enable DRM Protection on Amazon KDP

One of the easiest ways to protect your eBook is by enabling DRM (Digital Rights Management) when you publish on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

🔒 What Does DRM Do?

• Prevents readers from copying or sharing your eBook file.

• Blocks unauthorized distribution on torrent and file-sharing sites.

• Restricts downloads to the Amazon Kindle ecosystem.

⚠️ Important: DRM is not foolproof—hackers can sometimes bypass it—but it significantly reduces casual piracy and prevents easy file-sharing.

✔ How to Enable DRM on KDP:

1. Log into your Amazon KDP account.

2. Upload your manuscript.

3. When prompted, select “Enable DRM” before publishing.

4. Note: DRM cannot be changed after publishing, so choose carefully.

2. Enable DRM Protection on Other Platforms

Smashwords

Smashwords is a popular platform for indie authors to distribute eBooks across multiple retailers. Smashwords offers DRM for eBooks sold through its premium catalog.

✔ How to Enable DRM on Smashwords:

1. Log into your Smashwords account and go to your “Dashboard”.

2. Upload your manuscript in EPUB format.

3. In your Book Details, you’ll see an option for “DRM”. Check the box to enable DRM protection.

4. Your book will then be distributed to Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and other retailers with DRM applied.

Note: DRM is only applicable when your book is distributed through Smashwords’ premium catalog (to retailers like Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo). Books distributed via Smashwords direct sales are not protected by DRM.

Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital makes it easy for indie authors to distribute eBooks to a wide range of platforms, including Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and more. It also provides the option to apply DRM for these retailers.

✔ How to Enable DRM on Draft2Digital:

1. Log into your Draft2Digital account.

2. Upload your manuscript as EPUB or DOCX.

3. During the book setup process, you will be given the option to enable DRM protection.

4. Once enabled, DRM will be applied automatically to eBooks when distributed to retailers that support it (like Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo).

Kobo Writing Life

Kobo also offers DRM protection, and it’s available when you upload your books through Kobo Writing Life, which is a great platform for authors who want to distribute to global readers.

✔ How to Enable DRM on Kobo Writing Life:

1. Log into your Kobo Writing Life account.

2. Upload your manuscript in EPUB format.

3. Check the option for “Enable DRM” when you set the price for your book.

4. DRM protection will be applied automatically to your eBook for sale on Kobo.

Google Play Books

Google Play also offers DRM for authors distributing their books through the platform. However, you must upload your book via Google’s Partner Center.

✔ How to Enable DRM on Google Play Books:

1. Log into your Google Play Books Partner Center account.

2. Upload your manuscript in EPUB format.

3. During the setup process, you’ll see an option to apply DRM protection.

4. Enable DRM, and Google will ensure that your book is only available to readers within the Google ecosystem.

3. Watermark Your Book to Deter Pirates

Watermarking is an effective anti-piracy tool that allows you to track leaks and discourage illegal distribution. There are two types of watermarking:

Visible Watermarking (Manual Method)

This involves adding text or a logo to your book’s pages before uploading it to KDP or any other platform.

✔ For eBooks (EPUB or KPF for Kindle)

1. In Microsoft Word (before converting to Kindle format):

   • Click Insert > Header & Footer.

   • Add a copyright notice (e.g., “© [Your Name] 2025. All rights reserved.”).

   • Save as a Word document (.docx) or EPUB file before uploading to KDP or any other platform.

2. In Kindle Create (for formatting before upload):

   • Open Kindle Create and import your manuscript.

   • Use Header & Footer tools to add a watermark (e.g., “Not for Redistribution” for review copies).

   • Save and upload the KPF file to KDP.

✔ For Paperbacks (PDF Uploads to KDP Print)

1. Open your PDF manuscript in Adobe Acrobat or Canva.

2. Click Edit PDF > Watermark > Add.

3. Type your watermark text (e.g., “Official Copy – Do Not Distribute”).

4. Set opacity to 30-50% so it doesn’t obscure readability.

5. Save and upload the PDF file to KDP.

4. Protect Your ARCs and Review Copies from Leaks

Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) are crucial for early reviews, but they’re also a common source of piracy. Some readers accidentally or intentionally upload review copies to piracy sites. Here’s how to prevent that:

✔ Use Watermarked ARCs – Add a visible watermark (e.g., “For Review Only – Not for Resale”) before sending copies.

✔ Use NetGalley or BookFunnel – These platforms provide secure ARC distribution and let you track who downloaded your book.

✔ Limit ARC Distribution – Only send ARCs to trusted reviewers. If possible, require an email sign-up to track distribution.

✔ Create Unique Copies – Some authors add subtle, trackable differences to ARC copies (such as slightly different formatting) so they can identify who leaked it.

What to Do If Your Book Is Pirated

Despite all precautions, piracy can still happen. Here’s what to do if you find your book on a piracy website.

1. Submit a DMCA Takedown Notice

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) allows you to request the removal of pirated content.

✔ How to File a DMCA Takedown Notice:

1. Identify the website’s hosting provider using WhoIs Lookup.

2. Contact the hosting provider or website owner.

3. Send a formal DMCA Takedown Notice (include your book title, copyright details, and the infringing URL).

Most websites comply and remove pirated content quickly.

2. Contact the Pirate Website Directly

If the hosting provider or website doesn’t respond to a DMCA notice, you can contact the site directly. Many piracy sites are willing to remove infringing content once it’s brought to their attention. Provide clear details, such as:

• The book’s title and author

• A link to the pirated copy

• A polite but firm request for removal

Some websites have dedicated contact forms for reporting copyright violations. It’s worth reaching out directly to request removal if the site is unresponsive to a DMCA notice.

3. Report to the Platform Hosting the Pirated Content

If your book is being pirated on major platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Facebook groups, you can report the infringement directly through their copyright infringement reporting systems. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Google all have established processes for filing complaints and taking down pirated content.

4. Seek Legal Action (If Necessary)

If the piracy is severe, or if repeated piracy occurs, legal action may be necessary. Consult with a copyright lawyer to explore your options. In some cases, it may be worthwhile to take further legal steps, such as issuing a cease and desist letter or filing a lawsuit.

Final Thoughts: Protect Your Work, But Don't Obsess Over Pirates

At the end of the day, piracy is frustrating, but it doesn’t define your success. Many top-selling indie authors still have pirated copies floating around—but they continue to thrive because they focus on building their audience, not just fighting pirates. Instead of letting piracy discourage you, keep creating great books and focusing on the readers who support you legally.

Have you experienced book piracy before? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🚀