A curated selection of publishing platforms and business models that allow independent authors to retain ownership of their rights while granting publishers or aggregators specific licensing rights. These services help authors maximize revenue, maintain creative control, and navigate the complex landscape of digital distribution without selling their copyright outright.
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A comprehensive ebook and print-on-demand aggregator that allows authors to retain all rights while distributing to major retailers. They offer a user-friendly dashboard for tracking royalties and formatting, enabling authors to license their works to thousands of stores without signing away copyright.
One of the largest distributors of indie ebooks, known for its generous rights retention policy where authors keep 100% of copyright. Authors can grant Smashwords a non-exclusive license to distribute their work, ensuring they remain the sole owners while reaching major bookstore networks.
A leading print-on-demand and distribution service that allows authors to maintain full intellectual property rights. By granting Ingram a distribution license rather than transferring ownership, authors can access global bookstore and library channels while retaining control over their publishing rights.
Amazon’s self-publishing platform allows authors to retain all rights to their work while granting Amazon a distribution license. Through KDP Select, authors can optionally license exclusivity for a 90-day period, but they always retain ownership and can opt out at any time to publish elsewhere.
Allows authors to self-publish globally while retaining all copyrights and intellectual property rights. Authors grant Kobo a non-exclusive license to sell their ebook, providing access to international markets and partnerships with major retailers like Walmart and Barnes & Noble without losing ownership.
Enables authors to publish directly to Apple’s ecosystem while maintaining full ownership of their content. This model relies on a licensing agreement where Apple handles distribution and marketing, allowing creators to keep their rights intact while reaching iPad, iPhone, and Mac users globally.
A hybrid publishing platform that allows authors to retain 100% of their copyright and royalties. Lulu offers both print-on-demand and global distribution through Ingram, operating on a license-to-distribute model that empowers authors to control their pricing, rights, and publishing timeline.
An annual subscription-based distribution service that pushes content to over 150 stores and libraries worldwide. Authors retain all rights and royalties (minus the subscription fee), granting PublishDrive a limited license to distribute, making it ideal for authors with large backlists who want broad reach.
A European-based distribution network that allows authors to keep all rights to their works. StreetLib operates on a licensing model for distribution, helping indie authors reach international markets with flexible terms that prioritize author ownership and creative control over third-party acquisition.
A boutique distributor focusing on literary fiction and non-fiction that works under a licensing agreement rather than acquisition. Authors retain copyright while Rebellion handles marketing and distribution to major retailers, offering a curated approach that respects author ownership and brand identity.
Specializes in 'vooks,' a format blending ebooks with video content, allowing authors to license their content for this immersive experience. Authors retain ownership of their IP while partnering with Vook to reach audiences seeking enhanced digital reading experiences without transferring rights.
A major global audiobook platform that offers authors the ability to license their existing audiobooks or produce new ones while retaining rights. Their flexible licensing models allow indie authors to enter the lucrative audiobook market without signing away intellectual property or long-term exclusivity.
Amazon’s Audiobook Creation Exchange allows authors to produce and distribute audiobooks while retaining ownership options. Through exclusive or non-exclusive licensing deals, authors keep their rights and earn royalties, leveraging Amazon’s vast audience without the need to sell their publishing rights.
A subscription-based service where authors license their content for inclusion in the Scribd library. This model allows authors to retain copyright while earning revenue based on reading minutes, providing a unique revenue stream through a licensing framework that prioritizes content access over ownership transfer.
A defunct but historically significant model that licensed content from authors for its reading subscription service. While no longer active, its framework highlighted the viability of license-to-earn models for indie authors, paving the way for current subscription services that respect author rights.
A distribution service for bookstores that allows authors and small presses to retain all rights and inventory control. By licensing their distribution to BiblioVault, authors ensure their books are available to retailers without losing ownership, offering a robust solution for niche or academic authors.
A self-publishing platform that allows authors to keep 100% of their rights and royalties. BookBaby offers global distribution through Ingram and other partners under a licensing agreement, providing professional services while ensuring authors remain the sole owners of their intellectual property.
A hybrid publisher that allows authors to retain copyright ownership while purchasing production and distribution services. This license-to-distribute model provides access to traditional retail channels and marketing support, ensuring authors maintain creative and legal control over their published works.
Lulu’s premium print-on-demand service that offers faster turnaround times while maintaining the author’s full copyright. Authors grant Lulu a distribution license for the accelerated service, allowing them to meet high-demand retail requirements without sacrificing ownership or long-term rights flexibility.
An upgraded distribution tier that grants select retailers a license to sell high-quality ebooks while the author retains all rights. This model allows authors to expand their reach to premium stores while maintaining the freedom to change distributors or pricing strategies at any time.
A program that allows authors to grant Ingram a temporary exclusive distribution license for ebooks at a discount. This model helps authors gain visibility on major platforms while retaining the right to return to non-exclusive models after the term, balancing exclusivity benefits with long-term rights ownership.