Canva Template Links Going Pro: Plus a Warning for KDP Publishers Using Free Elements
If you use Canva to share templates or self-publish books on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) there are two important updates you need to know.
First, Canva’s Template Links are changing, and it could affect how you share your designs. Second, there are growing concerns around copyright and the use of Canva elements in KDP books. These updates could impact how you create, collaborate, and sell. Let’s break them down.
Note: I am a Canva Pro affiliate and this post does contain affiliate links.
Template Links Going Premium in 2025
Starting 2 June 2025, Canva’s Template Link feature will become a premium-only option. That means:
- Paid users (Canva Pro, Teams, Enterprise, Education, or Nonprofits) can continue creating and sharing Template Links.
- Free users will no longer be able to create Template Links after that date.
- If a free user tries to open a shared Template Link and shares the same domain as the creator, they will need to be on a paid plan to access it.
This change may create some confusion, even among Canva Verified Experts, we’re seeing questions arise about how this affects collaboration and template sharing. We’re awaiting more clarity, so this post will be updated as information becomes available. You can read the official announcement on Canva’s Help Page: Template Link Update.
Why the Change?
According to Canva, Template Links are essential for staying on-brand and keeping teams consistent and up to date. Moving this feature behind the Pro paywall aims to ensure that only verified and trusted collaborators have access to editable templates.
If you’d like to continue using Template Links or need more robust team tools, you might want to explore Canva Pro. Or give it a try with my affiliate link: Try Canva Pro FREE.
Now let’s talk books…
Copyright and Amazon KDP: The Canva Connection
A separate but related issue concerns Canva-created content used in books uploaded to Amazon KDP. A recent video in the publishing community flagged a key legal risk: you cannot claim full copyright over a book that contains free Canva elements.
Here’s why it matters:
- Copyright only applies to original creations. Canva elements (especially free ones) are not considered your original work.
- Amazon KDP requires that you hold full copyright to the content you upload. Using Canva’s stock elements without understanding the licensing could result in blocks or account flags.
How to Stay Safe When Publishing with Canva
- Create from scratch whenever possible to ensure full copyright ownership.
- Review Canva’s licensing terms, especially if you’re using free content.
- If your book is selling well, consider copyright registration or trademarking a unique series name.
- Check usage rights for any AI-generated content—not all tools release commercial rights by default.
You don’t want to end up lik me losing more than 200 published books and having my KDP account terminated.
Final Thoughts
Between Canva’s Template Link changes, and the evolving copyright landscape with KDP and AI, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. I’ll be updating this post as new details emerge, especially after discussions within the Canva Verified Experts community.
In the meantime, if you’d like help making sense of Canva, please get in touch here at this site or on Linkedin.
Related:
Canva Pro FAQs
Official Canva Template Link Help Page
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I’m Thea Newcomb – Scotland’s first Canva Trainer and Verified Expert. I help businesses design confidently, save time, and stay on-brand with Canva workshops, webinars, and 1:1s worldwide. Whether you’re flying solo or leading a team, I’ve got you.
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