Review the territories selected for a print edition against the rights actually held for that publication. KDP may use an existing ebook's territory choices as defaults, but a copied setting is not a rights determination. Check current print distribution conditions and resolve uncertainty before approving the selection.
Identify the publication whose rights are being reviewed
Record the particular book, language, edition, and format in the review sheet. Rights questions need to be connected to the actual proposed publication rather than a general statement that the author owns the project. Keep the supporting agreements or records available to the person responsible for assessing them.
Do not infer the answer solely from who created the manuscript file or who controls the publishing account. Those facts can be relevant to production without resolving every question about the proposed distribution. The review should establish the basis for the selection made in the publishing flow.
Treat inherited settings as a starting point
KDP's print distribution guidance explains that territory selections from an existing Kindle ebook may be used as defaults for a paperback or hardcover. Review those defaults deliberately. The fact that a field is already filled in does not show that someone checked its suitability for the new format.
Compare the selection with the print edition's supporting record and note any differences requiring attention. If the same territories are appropriate, preserve the reason for that conclusion. If the position is unclear, keep the issue unresolved rather than treating the copied choice as independent evidence of authorization.
Separate desired reach from established rights
An author may want the book available broadly, but desired readership is not the basis for declaring rights. Record the territories supported by the actual assessment. Where agreements or source-material conditions create uncertainty, obtain appropriate clarification before selecting a broader distribution scope.
Avoid turning the checklist into a legal interpretation tool. Its purpose is to organize the publication decision and preserve the evidence behind it. A difficult contract question requires suitable expertise, while a clear project record helps that reviewer understand which publication and use are under consideration.
Check the current print distribution conditions
Consult the current KDP print distribution guidance for the relevant format and territory selection. The guidance includes relationships among certain territory choices and differences in availability. Review the applicable conditions rather than assuming that every territory can be selected independently in every situation.
Keep marketplace availability distinct from rights ownership. A supported storefront does not establish that the author holds the necessary rights, and a rights record does not by itself describe every operational distribution option. Both need to agree with the intended publication before the settings are approved.
Reconcile the selection with the manuscript’s sources
Where the book contains licensed or otherwise separately sourced material, make sure the responsible rights review considers the proposed distribution. Keep those records connected to the actual material included in the print edition. An image removed from the book and a newly added appendix may change what needs examination.
Do not assume that a general credit line resolves a territorial restriction or an unanswered use question. Preserve unresolved issues clearly and keep affected material outside the approved release until the necessary decision is made. This is a review of this publication's evidence, not a shortcut for inferring rights from attribution.
Preserve a dated approval for the actual setup
Record the selected territories, the reviewed supporting material, and the version of the print package covered by the decision. Include the official guidance consulted and the date checked. The result should be understandable to a later editor without requiring access to someone's memory of the setup session.
Revisit the record when an agreement, edition, format, or included asset changes in a relevant way. A previous publication's accepted settings do not establish every later choice. The final handoff should show why the current selection fits the book's actual rights position and the current publishing flow, with any remaining uncertainty resolved before release.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for this publishing decision.
Can I accept territory defaults copied from an ebook?
Review them against the print edition’s actual rights record first. KDP can supply defaults, but the existence of a preselected value does not establish that it is appropriate for the new publication.
Does a supported marketplace prove I can distribute there?
No. Marketplace support and the rights you hold are separate questions. Confirm both the applicable operational conditions and the evidence supporting your selected territories.
When should the territory review be repeated?
Revisit it after relevant changes to agreements, formats, editions, or included material. Preserve the approved selection with the specific publication package and supporting records it covers.
What must I check, disclose, and verify myself when AI helped produce the book?
Review facts, rights, and source material yourself, record which parts were AI-assisted or AI-generated so you can answer Amazon’s disclosure question accurately, and treat every automated check as a starting point rather than a verdict.
See what the compliance checks cover