Writing & Self Publishing: Can multiple people access the same KDP account?

The answer to this question is no!

Seriously, its a definite no.

The only person who should have access and login to a KDP account is the person who owns that account.

No ifs, buts or maybes - the answer is no.

They shouldn't give their password to anyone else, allow others to log in to their account, use their account, etc. If something needs done, the person who has the account needs to do it themselves.

You shouldn't let anyone else access or use your KDP account, and shouldn't use anyone else's either.

It doesn't matter if you are formatting a book for someone, a virtual assistant (VA), an employee or employer, co-author, graphic designer, friend, family member, etc. - the only person who should access YOUR self publishing account is YOU!

Allowing other people to have your login details or to access your KDP account is against their terms and conditions - it's in section 4.3 of the terms, which includes the following:

You may not permit any third party to use the Program through your account and will not use the account of any third party.

That's pretty clear.

Other parts of the website may give slightly contradicting advice, however ultimately the terms and conditions are the contract you have "signed" and agreed to - so that is what you should go with.

KDP accounts (even with the business options) are designed for individual people rather then businesses with employees, etc. Even if you consider yourself a business, or have a team of staff, VAs, etc. - only you should have access to your KDP account.

If you co-write a book with someone else, not even your co-author should access to your KDP account. You'll have to decide between yourselves who will self publish the book (and don't end up both publishing the book on their own KDP account, as that can cause lots of other problems with duplicate content, etc.).

I definitely encourage you to read the terms and conditions. It's not like Netflix, XBox, etc. where you may just punch the agree button without reading - treat these terms and conditions like a business contract, because that's what it essentially is.

Logging into other people's KDP accounts is risky - there's plenty of horror stories of accounts being deleted because this has happened. It's also against terms and conditions to have more then one KDP account, so if someone has their own KDP account, and also logs into someone elses, their algorithms may think both are the same person, and suspend or remove both accounts!

Just because other people are accessing and managing other people's KDP accounts, doesn't mean you can too. It's still against their terms and conditions.

If you want to help your client manage their KDP account - you can't. Your client is not really going to appreciate if they end up getting their account deleted because they allowed someone else to log in!

If someone needs help managing their KDP account, what can they do? Here are some alternatives...

• A lot of the KDP setup is straightforward and self explanatory. There's also detailed documentation and help.
• You could get someone to talk you through it in the same room.
• Look at other self publishing services - for example Draft2Digital does have a shared accounts option to allow other people access to an account to help.
• Using remote access software like LogMeIn or TeamViewer to access the account owner's computer while they are logged in to KDP to help them - although this is still technically against terms and conditions.
• If someone is designing the cover for you, formatting the book, etc. - you send them the appropriate templates/guidelines, and they then send the files they have worked on, which you upload.

Even if someone is designing a cover, a co-author, ghostwriting the book for you, formatting, etc. - they can't upload it to KDP for you. You will have to do this yourself - they will have to send you the cover design, formatted book, etc. which you then upload.

There's also templates, guidelines, etc. you can download from KDP that your designers, etc. can use. They do not need to log in or access your KDP account.

It's a big mistake I'm seeing a lot of people make recently. Not realising its against their rules, and innocently helping someone, but potentially getting their accounts (plus their own if they use KDP) suspended or removed.

As I mentioned at the start of this blog post - there are no ifs, buts or maybes about this issue.

It's also worth remembering that your KDP account will have your bank account details - so they can pay you royalties. Its not necessarily something you want someone else to see, even someone you trust. Plus they can easily change the settings to their own bank account, so definitely risky!

If you think this rule on not allowing other people to use or access your KDP account is strict - it's worth remembering that its similar to rules on other websites - e.g. Facebook and LinkedIn have similar rules and terms, and don't allow others to access a persons account/profile.

While I've mainly talked about KDP here - a lot of this will also apply to other self publishing services - e.g. Ingram Spark, Lulu, etc. Sharing your login details is still risky, against their rules, and not worth it.

I may have been a bit blunt in this blog post - however its a serious mistake I'm seeing many make, or ask people to make.

I've had a few people asking me to upload stuff to KDP for them as well, and (as much as I would like to help) I've always said no for this very reason.

I'm hoping this blog post helps prevent your KDP account being terminated (and also the account of someone who may have potentially helped you or you have helped being removed too).

This isn't like Netflix where you may have given your password to a friend or family member, even though you knew it was against the rules. As I mentioned previously, the terms and conditions is a business contract - a contract that does get enforced.

If you take one thing away from this blog post...

If you use KDP don't let anyone else use your login details (even if you need help with formatting, etc.).

If someone asks you for help managing their KDP account, you can't login to their account (it's against the terms and conditions) - so you have to say no.

If its something you are already doing or have done in the past - stop!

DISCLAIMER:

This blog post should not be seen or used as a substitute for seeking legal advice, or reading the terms and conditions for yourself.

Further help and reading...

• KDP's terms and conditions (in particular, section 4.3 is relevant to what is discussed in this article): https://kdp-eu.amazon.com/agreement?token=eyJjbGllbnRJZCI6ImtpbmRsZV9kaXJlY3RfcHVibGlzaGluZyIsImRvY3VtZW50SWQiOiJrZHAiLCJjYW5jZWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2tkcC5hbWF6b24uY29tIiwiY2xpZW50TG9jYWxlIjoiTkEiLCJkaXNwbGF5UGFyYW1zIjpudWxsLCJyYXdQYXJhbXMiOm51bGx9%7CeyJtYXRlcmlhbFNlcmlhbCI6MSwiaG1hYyI6Ik9pRzdzcG1UNm5LY25veWhlVG50cDRSQnBKVHAzQ1dwc2g0VXlDMDJKOW89IiwianNvbkhtYWMiOnRydWUsInR5cGUiOiJSRUFEX09OTFkiLCJhY2NlcHQiOmZhbHNlfQ&language=en_US
• Managing your KDP account info on KDP's website - while this info contradicts the terms, ultimately the terms and conditions is what you should go with (as that's essentially the contract you signed): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634350
• Draft2Digital (another self publishing company) account sharing - an alternative to KDP that may be worth looking into if you need to share an account: https://www.draft2digital.com/blog/a-little-help-introducing-d2d-shared-accounts/

Help and support with your book idea...

If you are interested in writing and self publishing your own book, I have a range of support and resources to help you get your book written and released.

Sharing 10+ years experience.

Including my book on writing/self publishing, and one-to-one help where we can discuss your book idea.

(Although as you probably guessed from this blog post, I can't upload your book to KDP or another service for you!)

Find all my help and resources at: booksandnetworking.co.uk/writing