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Warning: KDP banning old and new erotica titles en masse from self-publishers

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594K views 564 replies 125 participants last post by  Ann in Arlington  
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#1 ·
Amazon is, yet again, changing their "acceptable" content policy when it comes to KDP uploads. Day by day, they are going through the back catalogs of all the erotica writers/uploaders and indiscriminately pulling down titles which have been up for a long time due to acceptable content policy violations. It crosses many different genres of erotica: BBW, Scifi, BDSM, light erotica, etc. Including the ones which are titled in a non-raunchy manner. They are especially hard on the ones which are graphically and explicitly titled, such as "[Expletive] in Hard the A** By The Neighbor".

They do not give any specifics as to what constitutes acceptable content as it is very, very vague, as posted on their website and sending customer service emails to them only gets you back more vague reasons as to why the stuff is unacceptable to them normally.

https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A3KIRDTX1UQJX0

The issue is if that if an author re-uploads previously "unacceptable" content back to KDP they block your account. So this makes uploading old material back to amazon, even if it is retitled, nearly impossible.

Long story short, yesterday my editor and I lost 106 erotica titles, many of which had been up for a year or more as ebooks, that violated amazons new "acceptable" content guidelines.

Basically, the erotica market on Amazon is getting so censored and "acceptable" content policies are getting so erratic it makes little to no business sense to continue operating there at least on a print and ebook basis.
 
#2 ·
Condolences.
That's a hard blow against porn writers (sorry, could NOT resist. I'm ebil. EBIL!)

Bottom line is that Amazon can set their own rules as to what they deem acceptable. It's not censorship. It's inventory.

This goes with my personal "sky is falling" paranoia that, now that Amazon is firmly entrenched in the book publishing market with more Big Five playing their game, they no longer need the indies and are pushing them out of sight in favor of the higher-priced merchandise.
If I wasn't such a coward, I'd publish an eBook for 12 bucks to see what happens.
 
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#3 ·
I have a couple of KDP accounts and this is the email that two of the account got yesterday. Names and titles have been redacted:

Hello,

We're contacting you regarding the following book(s) that you submitted for sale in our Kindle Store:

(106 titles listed)

During our review process, we found that your book contains content that is in violation of our content guidelines. Our content guidelines apply to the book interior, as well as cover image, title and/or product descriptions. As a result, we will not be offering this book for sale.

Our content guidelines are published on the Kindle Direct Publishing website. To learn more, please see: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A1KT4ANX0RL55I

Best regards,
(customer service rep name)
 
#4 ·
Reading their content guidelines, this has to be my favorite, because there's absolutely no way to figure out what's wrong:

Offensive Content
What we deem offensive is probably about what you would expect.
 
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#5 ·
Quiss said:
... I'd publish an eBook for 12 bucks to see what happens.
Click to expand...
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I tried that with a boxed set, thought I'd see what that party might be like, had my shoes polished and jacket on to go mingle, and then midway through uploading found Amazon has a price ceiling for indies at $9.99.
.
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#6 ·
jvin248 said:
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I tried that with a boxed set, thought I'd see what that party might be like, had my shoes polished and jacket on to go mingle, and then midway through uploading found Amazon has a price ceiling for indies at $9.99.
.
.
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Really? I never knew that.
 
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#7 ·
The real master stroke in all this is that if you have any titles which are produced under royalty share audiobook productions through ACX.com that are delisted then you are in "breach of contract" for 7 years worth of royalties to the audiobook narrator.
 
#8 ·
It's always seemed like Amazon didn't care what was in the books as long the title, cover and blurb were vague enough to conceal it.  Maybe things are changing.  It would be unfortunate, but it would be their loss.  I have no doubt authors and fans would find an alternate distributor and leave Amazon with its 'respectable' table of smut like 50 Shades.
 
#9 ·
superfictious said:
It's always seemed like Amazon didn't care what was in the books as long the title, cover and blurb were vague enough to conceal it. Maybe things are changing. It would be unfortunate, but it would be their loss. I have no doubt authors and fans would find an alternate distributor and leave Amazon with its 'respectable' table of smut like 50 Shades.
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"We're not going to sell one of the hugest markets anymore." Smart move, Amazon. All the Fifty books are still there. I wonder how much money they have made off of EL James.

Image
 
#10 ·
lordoffajitas said:
The real master stroke in all this is that if you have any titles which are produced under royalty share audiobook productions through ACX.com that are delisted then you are in "breach of contract" for 7 years worth of royalties to the audiobook narrator.
Click to expand...
Typically audio books aren't blocked, at least thus far. It seems that ACX is enough of a separate division that what goes for ebooks doesn't go for audio, but that could change.

M
 
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#11 ·
lordoffajitas said:
The issue is if that if an author re-uploads previously "unacceptable" content back to KDP they block your account. So this makes uploading old material back to amazon, even if it is retitled, nearly impossible.
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They don't seem to have an issue with people reworking blocked content and resubmitting it. I've seen some communications with Amazon where this is explicitly stated as the best course of action. It's probably worth pointing out that in the past when this has been an issue people have always had warnings, so it's not an out-of-the-blue block.

Basically, the erotica market on Amazon is getting so censored and "acceptable" content policies are getting so erratic it makes little to no business sense to continue operating there at least on a print and ebook basis.
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I disagree strongly with this sentiment. Regardless of the hoops I have to jump through Amazon still represent around 70% of the market. Beyond banning erotica outright (which they have given no indication that that is their intent) there isn't much they could do which would make pulling the plug on them indicitive of good business sense as far as I'm concerned.

Adapt. Adapt. Adapt.
 
#12 ·
tkkenyon said:
Yikes.

From what I understand, for content, it's poop, pee, animals, rape-for-fun, and snuff, right?

Covers and titles should be a little cagey, right?

I can just picture some Amazon person sitting in a little room, "reading" all these books for content, just to make sure they conform, again and again and again.

TK Kenyon
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What is so interesting is, at the same time, Amazon is repackaging VC Andrews work (which is incest central) as romance. They also have a trad pub book that depicts graphic sex scenes between an adult and minor. It's not as explicit as some of the erotica, but it's graphic, disturbingly graphic. There is no way pedophiles aren't buying that book and having a good ol' time. That book is not blocked OR filtered from search results.

As always, I continue to believe it's a profit margin issue. Traditional books make more money for Amazon. Known authors (VC Andrews) make more money. When you marginalize lower profit centers, you force consumers into higher prices points/bigger profits. So incest and pedophilia are A OKAY so long as Amazon has maximized revenues. If they don't find you valuable, there's no reason not to block you and they get to hide behind the morality of 'porn is horrible' which almost no one questions. It's slick.

And again, as I've said many times before, sex machines and other 'toys' are available complete with uncensored, unfiltered graphic photos.

What they do and what they say, don't match. It's not morality, it's money.

Of course Amazon can sell whatever they want BUT on the consumer level I believe it's fraudulent for their manipulation of the search results (for filtered books at least) to be a secret. If they are going to block access to books, they should inform the consumer. Imo it's price fixing along the lines of what Kohl's and JCPenney did, manipulating prices to maximize profits.

I am thankful I didn't write any taboo erotica, however, I have regular ol' shapeshifter romance that has been filtered in the past. I could easily be blocked on Amazon's whim. Anyone could.
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#13 ·
For the blocked or filtered titles, are you working with title-submission@amazon.com? Escalate to them. If you want to make changes, they can temporarily unblock it so you can make the changes. If they tell you they can't, they've done it for others.
 
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#14 ·
I have been hit by this as well.  It does seem a bit random looking at which titles they blocked.  I have one Step-daddy PI which I understand is an area they are focusing on but I also had another title which had a 19 year old consenting adult that ended up in an encounter with the couple that had hired her for a babysitting job.  No incest, all consenting adults, and no other "yucky" categories that i can think of.  It has a plot and character development plus a tame cover image but was blocked.  Funny enough I submitted the next book in the series which was much more explicit and it got through fine.

I am just writing across the various sub-genres and watching to see what happens.  Unfortunately some of the most profitable niches seem to be the ones that are getting shut down.  :(
 
#15 ·
jvin248 said:
I tried that with a boxed set, thought I'd see what that party might be like, had my shoes polished and jacket on to go mingle, and then midway through uploading found Amazon has a price ceiling for indies at $9.99.
Click to expand...
That's only if you want the 70 percent in royalties. KDP actually allows a maximum list price of $200.

https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A301WJ6XCJ8KW0
 
#16 ·
Morning Joe - from some of the other authors I've communicated with, it sounds like they're going after the barely legal titles now, too. So anything clearly suggesting barely legal, especially with virgin, is subject to getting hit.
 
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#17 ·
It took KDP more than 3 days to approve my new release. Are they cracking down on everyone, or just erotica? Smashwords also took 2 weeks to approve the Premium catalog, which combined with Amazon really messed up my release plans. I wonder if it's not related? I've never had issues like this. Another author suggested it was due to the cover image/naked back on my cover.  But for Pete's sake, mine is nothing compared to lots of covers out there. Color me confused.
 
#18 ·
Judging by the erotica forums I lurk at this is growing. Perhaps moreso than last years crackdown. Anything suggestive of violence, non-consent, PI and (potentially) bestiality themes is getting smacked hard. Bottom line (IMO) is that Amazon is prioritizing customers complaining about adult material found while searching for keyword related items. I say that because I hear a lot of rallying that smut writers are being maliciously targeted. Despite filters that have been in place for awhile now I still see smut while searching for misc stuff. I don't mind but I'll bet tens of millions of other shoppers do.

It's Halloween season. Just imagine how many "Force F*@%ed by the ------" titles are popping up during costume searches for kids right now. It happened to me the other night.

Also, the writing is clear that the days of graphic covers, titles and descriptions are over. Everything needs to be as tame as possible on the outside or lanquish in invisibility. Or be banned outright.

Which is just what erotica writers need: even more returns and scathing 1 star's for content that isn't obvious enough in the presentation. As if that didn't happen enough already.
 
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#19 ·
Christa Wick said:
Morning Joe - from some of the other authors I've communicated with, it sounds like they're going after the barely legal titles now, too. So anything clearly suggesting barely legal, especially with virgin, is subject to getting hit.
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Thank's Christa. It just took me by surprise since everyone was consenting adults and quite happy with the arrangement. I guess having the word Babysitter in the title may be one of their flags.
 
#20 ·
Yikes. That doesn't sound good. :(

I haven't had any issues with this yet, but a couple of my titles could definitely be in the firing line based on what people are saying. I really hope they become a little more transparent about what is and isn't acceptable if this continues.
 
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#21 ·
Bottom line (IMO) is that Amazon is prioritizing customers complaining about adult material found while searching for keyword related items. I say that because I hear a lot of rallying that smut writers are being maliciously targeted. Despite filters that have been in place for awhile now I still see smut while searching for misc stuff. I don't mind but I'll bet tens of millions of other shoppers do.
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Well, then, why don't they just institute an adult on/off switch? They've been muddling around with adult titles for a long time now. Why not just do like Smashwords and have a real, proper adult filter that people can use or not, as they choose?
 
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#22 ·
There's solid evidence to suggest at least a few Amazon reviewers are using much stricter guidelines than all the others. Specifically, Carlos F. is blocking most books by erotica authors. This is the name listed in the emails many erotica authors are receiving when they get blocked.

Many of the books he's blocking aren't even pseudo-incest and are fairly tame in other respects. Unfortunately, this is only adding to the confusion about the new standards and Amazon doesn't even seem to know about the problem.

Someone needs to alert KDP that not all their reviewers are on the same page with blocking content, but I'm not sure where this kind of complaint would be routed to.
 
#23 ·
Well, then, why don't they just institute an adult on/off switch?
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118'th time I've heard that suggestion and it sounds smarter each time. If every art and stock photo site (heck, any site) can insert a basic adult function like that then it should be a butt scratch of an effort for Zon. Would solve a LOT of problems (for everyone) and probably save Zon a heaping on manpower for screening and acting on tens of thousands of adult titles.

Hell, Jeff can even take credit for it and leave us a note on the main page. "To better serve the interests of all our customers we'll be instituting a new search function that..."

Everyone goes back to being happy and Jeff's a hero. Again.
 
#24 ·
By implementing a switch on their storefront, Amazon would be acknowledging that they do in fact sell naughty stories, and they're such great sellers that it warrants a switch.  Can't have the gentle, high brow ninnies realizing that while they're shopping for a copy of Lolita for school and flimsy Bratz costumes for the kiddies on Halloween.
 
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#25 ·
D.L. Shutter said:
Judging by the erotica forums I lurk at this is growing. Perhaps moreso than last years crackdown. Anything suggestive of violence, non-consent, PI and (potentially) bestiality themes is getting smacked hard. Bottom line (IMO) is that Amazon is prioritizing customers complaining about adult material found while searching for keyword related items. I say that because I hear a lot of rallying that smut writers are being maliciously targeted. Despite filters that have been in place for awhile now I still see smut while searching for misc stuff. I don't mind but I'll bet tens of millions of other shoppers do.

It's Halloween season. Just imagine how many "Force F*@%ed by the ------" titles are popping up during costume searches for kids right now. It happened to me the other night.
Click to expand...
I actually had this issue last night as well. I was browsing for some new horror titles and came across a few titles that...well...probably should not have been under the general "horror" search.

I think what is happening, however, is a self-perpetuating cycle. Amazon has ALWAYS been heavy-handed with everything. This is nothing new. Amazon is not known for using a scalpel to repair an issue. They have always used a chainsaw. And yes, I think it is clear from everything that I have read that they have been cracking down on erotic titles. I do not doubt this.

But, erotica authors have perpetuated the problem by simply miscategorizing their books to evade the Amazon filters. There is NO reason an erotic title should be categorized under the horror genre. And looking at some of the titles, they aren't just showing up in horror search. The authors have put them in the horror genre. I understand the idea: put it in genres where it will be seen. But by doing this, you encourage more customer complaints from people who are seeing erotic titles when they are searching for other things.

And the more complaints Amazon gets, the more they use the chainsaw.

The solution is for Amazon to institute an adult filter on the site. That is the practical solution. But then there is the issue that erotica authors won't use it. Even when I browse on Smashwords with the adult filter, I come across obviously erotic content where the author chose to not label it adult. If authors don't use the filter, the filter doesn't work.
I am curious if erotic authors have considered getting together to communicate with Amazon en masse to find a solution? Not some stupid public petition that is just meant to be confrontational. But several dozen authors getting together and contacting Amazon to say "We have noticed this. We know it is happening. How can WE help AMAZON develop a better system to support OUR customers?"

The worst that happens is you get a form reply. The best that happens is that you get a seat at the virtual table and maybe something can be sorted out. But it may be more effective to simply get together and confront the issue directly and professionally instead of hand-wringing in forums.
 
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