Can I publish public domain books on Chiify?

Public domain works (old classics whose copyright has expired) are generally discouraged on Chiify — not because of copyright, but because stores reject duplicate, low-uniqueness editions.

The problem

Thousands of identical copies of the same classic already exist. A plain reprint adds nothing, gets flagged as duplicate content, and rarely sells — exactly the kind of thin content that hurts a catalogue.

When it can work

A public domain title may be acceptable if your edition adds genuine original value, such as:

• A substantial new introduction, annotations, or scholarly notes.
• A new translation you created.
• Curated, original collections with editorial work.

Even then, it must read as a distinct, quality edition.

Safer path

Original work is always the stronger bet. If you do publish a public domain edition, make it genuinely yours and expect a careful review. See accepted and restricted content.

Still need help? Open a ticket from your dashboard or email [email protected] — a real person replies.