This is what I thought and what makes sense legally--

AI Overview

When a mainstream publisher acquires a book that gained popularity as a self-published "BookTok edition," the original version typically disappears from online retailers. The mainstream publisher then releases its own, newly packaged version.

Here is what generally happens:

Rights Reversion/Transfer: The author, who typically holds the copyright, transfers the publication and distribution rights to the new, larger publisher.

Unpublishing Old Editions: The author is usually required to "unpublish" all self-published or prior versions (e-book, paperback) before the new publisher launches their edition. The old listing on Amazon or other sites will be taken down or made unavailable for purchase.

Repackaging and Relaunch: The new publisher re-edits, redesigns, and re-covers the book, treating it as a new release to leverage their marketing power and distribution channels.

New ISBN: The new edition will have a different ISBN (International Standard Book Number), distinguishing it from the prior edition. However, some "BookTok editions" marketed by publishers themselves are explicitly labelled as "limited print runs" with special features like stenciled edges or unique covers, and these are only available while supplies last. Once those specific limited copies are sold out, they are not typically reprinted in that exact format. In summary, the original self-published format is generally replaced by the new publisher's version, while publisher-produced "limited editions" are designed to be temporary collector's items. What happens to an e-book when it gets picked up by ... - Reddit Apr 5, 2022 — Comments Section * AlecHutson. • 4y ago. First off, just to be clear there's an infinitesimal chance of that happening. Reddit