Overview

Amazon maintains specific condition guidelines for sellers listing software and computer games on its marketplace. These rules govern everything from which types of software can be sold to how products must be graded based on their physical condition. Understanding these requirements is essential for sellers in the Software & Computer Games category to avoid listing violations and maintain good account health.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Category approval may be required — Sellers may need to obtain prior approval before listing products in the Software & Computer Games category, and restricted products require a formal request through Seller Central.
• Only full retail versions are permitted — Amazon only allows the sale of full retail software packages, meaning partial, promotional, or non-standard editions are not eligible.
• Several software types are strictly prohibited — Pirated, duplicated, OEM, backup, beta, pre-release, freeware, shareware, and software requiring pre-purchase verification are all banned from the platform.
• Condition grading follows specific physical criteria — Products must be accurately graded based on the condition of the box, jewel case, disc, and UPC barcode, with clear thresholds for each tier.
• International restrictions apply — Buyers located outside the United States cannot purchase software or computer games from Amazon's U.S.-based sellers.

Prohibited Software Types

Amazon enforces a strict prohibition on several categories of software. Pirated or duplicated software in any format is banned outright, which includes unauthorized copies regardless of how they were reproduced. OEM software, which is typically bundled with hardware and not licensed for standalone resale, is also prohibited. Backup copies, beta or pre-release versions, and any software classified as freeware or shareware cannot be listed. Additionally, any software that requires pre-purchase verification before it can be used is not permitted on the platform. Sellers who list any of these prohibited types risk listing removal, account warnings, or suspension.

Condition Grading Standards