Amazon Warning to Associates and eBook Authors

eBook authors who live in Illinois and were planning on getting a 70% royalties for their ebooks and getting a shot of affiliate revenue for selling their ebooks on their blog or website have been put on notice.

You know when you get an email from Amazon and it is not a sales pitch something is up.

The next indication is the subject: Possible Termination Because Of New Illinois Legislation

And then when it starts: Greetings from the Amazon Associates Program, you know it’s not good news.

Here is a portion of the email from my partners, Amazon.

We regret to inform you that the Illinois state legislature has passed an unconstitutional tax collection scheme that, if signed by Governor Quinn, would leave Amazon.com little choice but to end its relationships with Illinois-based Associates. You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of Illinois. If our records are incorrect, you can manage the details of your Associates account here.

Please note that this not an immediate termination notice and you are still a valued participant in the Amazon Associates Program. But if the governor signs this bill, we will need to terminate the participation of all Illinois residents in the Associates Program. After that point, we will no longer pay any advertising fees for sales referred to amazon.com, endless.com and smallparts.com nor will we accept new applications for the Associates Program from Illinois residents.

The unfortunate consequences of this legislation on Illinois residents like you were explained to the legislature, including Senate and House leadership, as well as to the governor's staff.

Over a dozen other states have considered essentially identical legislation but have rejected these proposals largely because of the adverse impact on their states' residents….

We thank you for being part of the Amazon Associates Program, and wish you continued success in the future.

Sincerely,

Amazon.com

Well this doesn’t impact me to much but I had been an affiliate long before I published my first ebook. I have setup my blog and internet site with affiliate links to my ebook, “Call Off The Dogs” along with a nice Amazon cover display and a buy button.

Missing affiliate revenue is not that big a deal but the task of redoing my blog, my website and my marketing literature will be very time consuming. eBook authors with volume and are relying on the extra revenue to cover their marketing costs have a problem.

First of all, eBook authors beware. If Illinois pulls this off, watch out for other states to follow suit. Amazon will have no choice but to lay the hammer on them too.

Second. Is there anything we can do about this besides calling the governor who is behind the whole thing? I guess I could move to the sunny west coast.