Understanding Exclusive Copyright Documentation and Official Rights Verification

Why We Request Copyright or Rights Documentation?

Our review team may request this documentation if:

• The book’s content or title closely resembles other existing works.

• The book appears similar to material found in PLR (Private Label Rights) or open-source databases.

• There are suspicions of content repackaging, ghostwriting, or previous publication under another name or publisher.

These checks are a precautionary measure — not an accusation — and help ensure you truly hold the rights needed for publishing and royalty collection.

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1. What Is an Exclusive Copyright Document?

An exclusive copyright document is an official proof that you hold the full publishing and distribution rights to the submitted content.
It confirms that:

• You are the original creator or have secured the rights from the copyright holder.

• You are legally authorised to distribute the book in digital and/or print formats.

• No other publisher has exclusive rights to the same content.

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2. Acceptable Proof of Rights (Depending on Your Situation)

Please provide one of the following documents, depending on your case:

✅ For authors or publishers with reverted rights:

• A letter from your previous publisher confirming that all rights have reverted to you as the author.

✅ For publishers working with authors:

• A signed agreement between the publisher and the original author stating:

  • The author grants exclusive worldwide rights to publish and distribute the work.

  • The agreement includes verified digital signatures (DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat Sign, or any trusted electronic signature software).

  • The author’s identity can be verified (name, email, and signature must match official records).

✅ For content written by ghostwriters or freelancers:

• A signed ghostwriting contract from a reputable company or verified freelancer platform (e.g., Fiverr, Upwork, Reedsy), explicitly transferring exclusive rights to you.

✅ For previously published books (e.g., on Amazon Kindle, but not in KDP Select or Kindle Unlimited):

• A signed agreement between you and the author, or

• A letter from the previous publisher confirming they do not object to your edition.

✅ For original works:

• An official copyright certificate issued by a recognised government copyright office.

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3. Official Copyright Registrations We Accept

We accept official registrations issued by recognised copyright authorities only.
Examples include:

➡️ To locate your country’s official copyright office, search HERE

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4. What We Cannot Accept as Proof of Rights

The following documents or statements are not valid for copyright or rights verification:

• Personal statements or declarations (e.g., “I am the author and own the rights”)

• Unverified or unsigned contracts

• Copyright applications without official registration

• Certificates from “copyright proof” or time-stamping websites such as:

  • Protect My Work

  • Safe Creative

  • Dibbly / The Urban Writers copyright statements
    (These may prove authorship, but do not transfer or confirm legal copyright ownership.)

• Self-written contracts where one party is “PublishDrive”

• Screenshots showing your book on other platforms

• Proof of ISBN purchase

• A copy of your book’s copyright page or manuscript

• Photos of IDs, passports, or driver’s licences

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5. Digital Signatures and Authentic Documents

To be legally valid, an electronic agreement or rights transfer must include:

• Verified digital signatures from all involved parties

• Signatures issued via official tools such as DocuSign, Adobe Acrobat Sign, HelloSign, or TrustSign

• Metadata verifying the document’s integrity (timestamp, IP address, signer identity)

• Full names and email addresses of both signers

• No missing pages or unsigned annexes

Unsigned Word or PDF documents, scans without verification, or missing signature pages are not acceptable.

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6. Processing and Review Time

Once you submit your documentation:

• The review team will verify your files within 2 business days.

• If your proof is accepted, your title will be approved for distribution.

• If additional clarification is needed, you will be contacted directly.

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7. Additional Notes for Publishers and Aggregators

• You must hold exclusive publishing rights to distribute content via PublishDrive.

• If rights are non-exclusive, please clarify in your agreement to avoid conflicts.

• Content flagged by retailers (e.g., Amazon, Apple, Google, OverDrive) for rights disputes may be taken down until verified.

• Always keep backup copies of your signed agreements and certificates.

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8. Summary — Key Takeaways

✅ Provide official proof of rights (contract or copyright certificate)
❌ Avoid self-declarations or unverified documents
💡 Use official digital signatures
🌍 Register your works with your local copyright office for protection
📩 Keep documentation ready in case stores or our review team request verification

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If you have any questions about acceptable documents or need help verifying your file before upload, please contact our support team.

We’ll be happy to assist you in ensuring your title passes review smoothly.