Couple (e-)book publishing questions

[TwoOneThree]

Hello everybody,

I got a couple questions regarding publishing your own (e-)book through for example Amazon:

1) When publishing your book on for example Kindle, should you use your real name? Or can you use a fake name?

2) I'm thinking of publishing in my own language (Dutch), so is it possible for me to translate a very famous American book, for example How To Win Friends And Influence People, mix the content up a bit and sell it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Putabanana]

1) When making a KDP account you should use your real name, your author name is another story; you can either make up a pseudonym or still use your real one.
2) If you do it this way then you will pass Amazon's plagiarism checkers, but what if someone reads the book, realizes what you did then calls you out for it, or worse, reports your book to Amazon? minimum chance for it to happen still, only do it if you're willing to take this risk.

 

[TwoOneThree]

1) When making a KDP account you should use your real name, your author name is another story; you can either make up a pseudonym or still use your real one.
2) If you do it this way then you will pass Amazon's plagiarism checkers, but what if someone reads the book, realizes what you did then calls you out for it, or worse, reports your book to Amazon? minimum chance for it to happen still, only do it if you're willing to take this risk.

Thank you for your reply. Just a small question left about point 2: if I translate an English book to Dutch, mix the content up a bit and sell it on the Dutch version of Amazon, am I infringing copyright or is this legal to do?

 

[Putabanana]

Thank you for your reply. Just a small question left about point 2: if I translate an English book to Dutch, mix the content up a bit and sell it on the Dutch version of Amazon, am I infringing copyright or is this legal to do?

Yes, this is still considered plagiarism, and you can be sued if the original author finds out somehow and chooses to sue you.

 

[kerris]

Don't take this personal, but your idea is at best naive. It won't work. The dutch market is not an isolated island and English is most likely spoken by most of the people there. Some person or algorithm will find out and its considered plagiarism, that neither Amazon nor the rights holders will take lightly. Getting your Amazon KDP banned, means that everything is gone: no more buying on Amazon, no Partnernet, no Merch, no FBA. You're banned from any further business with them, which aside from legal penalties is tough enough, because Amazon and its various business arms still provide some of the most lucrative opportunities to make money online.

Ripping off a book translated from Swahili to Dutch might have worked in the 80s, but this is 2017 and you're trying to source from the world's most popular language. Don't do it.

Besides, the Dutch Kindle market is young and tiny, entry barriers are still very low. Put in some effort and make real money based on solid work.

 

[Shana Walters]

Hello everybody,

I got a couple questions regarding publishing your own (e-)book through for example Amazon:

1) When publishing your book on for example Kindle, should you use your real name? Or can you use a fake name?

2) I'm thinking of publishing in my own language (Dutch), so is it possible for me to translate a very famous American book, for example How To Win Friends And Influence People, mix the content up a bit and sell it?

Thanks in advance.

When you sign up with an account with Amazon, always use your real name. When you are ready to publish a book, you can then choose your real name or a pen name. You can publish books under several pen names in this one Amazon account.

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT copy another author's books and translate them into another language. It is plagiarism and you will be sued. Think about this carefully. Would you like it for someone to copy your books and translate them into another language and publishing them as if the books belong to them? No you would not like that. Do unto others as you will have them do unto you.