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.