This is a revised account of our 2014 research. It does not describe the current Kindle market or the current availability of unauthorized copies.
What we examined
We used PiracyTakedown’s search system to look for unauthorized copies distributed through cyberlockers and torrents, using the top 100 books in the US Amazon Kindle bestseller ranking on May 12, 2014.
Results reported at the time
| Ranking group | Books examined | Books with unauthorized copies detected | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positions 1–30 | 30 | 19 | About 63% |
| Positions 31–100 | 70 | 26 | About 37% |
| All top 100 books | 100 | 45 | 45% |
The “63%” in the original headline referred to the top 30 books, not the entire top 100. A book found on both a cyberlocker and a torrent was counted once in the book total.
How to interpret these findings
Failure to find a copy does not establish that no unauthorized copy exists. The study also did not measure download counts or changes in sales. Detecting distribution and demonstrating a loss of sales are separate questions.
The original report included book-level results, but a complete record of the search conditions and classification evidence is not available here. These historical findings cannot be generalized to today’s market.
Next steps for rights holders
Before requesting removal, check that the material matches your work, that the distribution is unauthorized, and that you have the correct URLs. See our guides to finding unauthorized copies and preparing a DMCA notice.
Source: PiracyTakedown, “Book Piracy: 63% of Kindle Bestsellers are Pirated,” originally published May 13, 2014. The table above reorganizes the totals in that report.