Title Transfers

If you need to transfer a title from one Lightning Source account to another, or to an IngramSpark account, or move your title from Amazon/KDP to Lightning Source, please review the information below.

Contact the Lightning Source support team for a Title Transfer Addendum at LSICUSTOMERSUPPORT@INGRAMCONTENT.COM

Title transfers from one Lightning Source Account to another

--We require written permission, by email, from the author/publisher who currently possesses the title and files, stating the title, files, and ISBN can be released and transferred to another author/publisher account. 

-- The account receiving the transfer must be fully activated and sign the Title Transfer Addendum.

-- All the sales and returns history for the ISBN will also transfer over to the author/publisher account if the same ISBN is used. Please review the paragraph further below, marked as IMPORTANT for more information. It is best publishing practice to use a new ISBN.

 

Title Transfers from KDP/CreateSpace to a Lightning Source Account   

You can have a book in your Lightning Source account, available for sale through Ingram's global distribution network, AND have it on your Amazon/KDP account, as long as you do not use their expanded distribution option.

-- A Title Transfer Addendum must be completed by the publisher receiving the title(s) and the publisher relinquishing the title/ISBN. This will be filed on both account accounts.

-- If CreateSpace or KDP owns the ISBN or if it is CreateSpace or KDP exclusive, it cannot be transferred.

-- If the author/publisher owns the ISBN, the files and ISBN can be transferred to the author/publisher account once Expanded Distribution is removed and CreateSpace or KDP confirms with Lightning Source support that the transfer can be completed.

-- If the title has never been in Expanded Distribution with KDP, it can be set up as a new title on the Lightning Source account without going through the title transfer process.

-- The account receiving the transfer of the title, ISBN, and files must be fully activated.

Transfer Information

--Transfer requests can be sent to your Client Support Team. They will send the Title Transfer Addendum document to the Publisher relinquishing titles and the Publisher receiving titles. The fully executed agreement will then be attached to both Publisher’s accounts. 

--Once this step is complete, the title(s) will be transferred by the support team. Title transfers can take up to 30 days to complete.

--Once a title is transferred to the author or publisher's account, that author/publisher will be responsible for the title moving forward. This includes invoices, returns, and compensation payments for sales through Ingram/Lightning Source's global distribution network if the same ISBN is used.

--The author/publisher accepting the transferred title(s) can update metadata, submit new files, and upload revisions to the files for the title.

Important Note about Returns:

-- If the same ISBN is used and transferred with the title, all the title's history moves with it. This includes sales history and returns if the book was set as returnable with the previous publisher.

-- If the book was listed as returnable when transferred and the same ISBN is used, the new owner/publisher could receive returns for books sold before they took ownership of the title.

-- If using the same ISBN and the return status is changed from returnable to non-returnable, returns will be allowed and accepted for 180 days. This means the new owner of the title(s) (using the same ISBN) would be responsible for any returns received.

-- To avoid returns for a book listed as returnable with a prior publisher, we suggest using a new ISBN. Sales history and information may be lost since it is tied with the "old" ISBN, but it keeps the publishing process cleaner and has no risk of returns. 

-- If a publisher takes a title out of production or removes distribution services and then transfers the title to another publisher during the 180-day return period, a request to transfer returnable titles from the original publisher to the new publisher during this period may not be accepted. Titles can only be associated with one publisher during the 180-day returns period, determined as of the date a title is no longer available. More information about returns can be found HERE.

 

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