Amazon has recently made an announcement: starting January 20, 2026, the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform will empower self-published authors with the option to "turn off DRM" (Digital Rights Management). This will enable them to offer e-book downloads to readers in two widely-used open formats: EPUB and PDF. The objective behind this strategic shift is twofold: to cater to authors' requests for more accessible formats and to tackle the ongoing challenges posed by piracy.

In the past, Amazon predominantly relied on its proprietary e-book formats (such as AZW3), coupled with DRM safeguards, to maintain control over copyrights and ensure a consistent reading experience. However, with the introduction of EPUB and PDF formats, authors' creations will enjoy greater compatibility across various platforms. Yet, this newfound accessibility also carries the potential risk of escalating piracy concerns. To mitigate this, Amazon is advising authors to thoughtfully evaluate whether to keep DRM enabled, taking into account the nature of their works and the prevailing market demands.