# Publishing public domain books on KDP: differentiation and royalties

> Can I publish public domain books on Amazon KDP, and what rules apply?

Yes, but if a free version is already in the Kindle Store, KDP only accepts a differentiated edition: an original translation, original annotations, or 10 or more original illustrations, labeled (Translated), (Annotated) or (Illustrated) in the title. Ebooks that are primarily public domain content only qualify for the 35% royalty and cannot be enrolled in KDP Select.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Accepted differentiation | Translated, Annotated, or Illustrated (10+ original illustrations) |
| Title label | (Translated), (Annotated) or (Illustrated) |
| Ebook royalty | 35% only |
| KDP Select | Not eligible |
| Pre-orders | Not eligible |
| Series pages | Not eligible |
| Contributors | All contributors must be listed |

## When differentiation is required

A public domain book is one no longer covered by copyright, usually because the rights expired. KDP allows these books, but if a free version of the title is already available in the store, it only accepts a differentiated version. Amazon recognizes three kinds:

- **Translated:** an original translation.
- **Annotated:** original annotations such as study guides, literary critiques, detailed biographies or historical context.
- **Illustrated:** 10 or more original illustrations relevant to the book.

## How to label the edition

The title field must include (Translated), (Annotated) or (Illustrated). "Pride and Prejudice (Annotated)" is acceptable; "Pride and Prejudice (with an Introduction by Tiffany Gordon)" is not. The description must open with a bullet-point summary of what is original, and Amazon's page attaches a maximum of 80 characters to that summary. In the Publishing Rights step, choose "This is a public domain work." Copyright terms vary by country, so a work may be public domain in one market but not another.

## Program limits

Ebooks that consist primarily of public domain content earn only the 35% royalty, cannot be enrolled in KDP Select, cannot be set up as pre-orders and cannot be used to create a series.

## Worked example

A $2.99 annotated classic with a 1 MB file sold to a US buyer earns 35% × $2.99 = $1.05. The same price on the 70% option would have paid about $1.99 after delivery costs, but that option is not available for this book.

## Common mistakes

- Treating a collection of several free classics as differentiated. Collections are on Amazon's "not differentiated" list.
- Writing "Illustrated" for a handful of images. The threshold is 10 or more original illustrations.

Amazon changes these rules; the linked KDP help pages are the authority.

## FAQ

**Does a new cover or a linked table of contents count as differentiation?**

No. Amazon lists a linked table of contents, formatting improvements, collections, sales rank, price and freely available internet content as features it does not treat as differentiation.

**Can a public domain-based book ever get the 70% royalty?**

Yes, if you add enough substantial original content or an original translation that the book is no longer primarily public domain.

**Who do I credit for a translation?**

The translator and the original author go in the contributor field. If it is not a new translation and the translator is unknown, list the translator as Anonymous.

**Can Amazon ask me to prove a work is in the public domain?**

Yes. KDP may ask for proof, and it may refuse public domain content that is already available through Amazon or other sites.

## Sources

- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200743940
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200644210
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GD9PMU58BV24QFZ7
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201499380

Last checked: 2026-11-09. Page: https://kdp123.com/facts/public-domain-content/. Data: CC BY 4.0, kdp123.com.