Guide to Writing a Book Copyright Page [With 3 Templates]

Traditional publishers will write their authors’ copyright pages.

When you choose to self-publish a book, you are not so lucky.

Fortunately, I’m here to make writing a copyright page as simple as possible.

Most self-publishers get intimidated when it comes to making their first book copyright page. I understand – the small print and legal jargon were enough to make me squeamish when I was in your shoes.

Let me ease your burden.

Below, you’ll find a copyright page template that you can copy and paste into your book.

I’ll also explain each element of a copyright page, tell you if it’s required, and provide an example of each unique element.

After reading this post, you’ll be able to quickly and confidently prepare your own book copyright pages and protect yourself and your works from book piracy.

This is part of a series of posts all about creating the different parts of a book. Check out our Master Guide here.

Quick Disclaimer: Thank goodness I never became a lawyer. This should not be taken as legal advice. And that's it for my legal disclaimer (or, as I call it, my CYA statement).

A second disclaimer: Links in this article may give me a small commission if you use them to buy anything. It’s no extra cost for you, and it helps me write these handy articles that you can always read for free.

What is a copyright page for?

A copyright page is for letting people know a book isn’t in the public domain.

It’s your copyrighted intellectual property. Your book cannot be copied without permission. This page also contains info helpful for distributors, librarians, retailers, and booksellers.

The copyright page goes on the back of the title page (the verso) in the front matter. Read my article on front matter and back matter for more info.

Multiple elements of a copyright page serve various purposes.

Traditionally published books contain a lot of publisher information, so readers can order more books from the author or publisher. Self-published authors often put their author website instead.

A disclaimer can absolve you of legal liability concerning parts of your book. For instance, if your recipe book calls for eggs, you may include a disclaimer that eating raw eggs can lead to disease.

The edition number and printer’s key may be significant for book collectors down the road.

Do you need a copyright page?

Yes, you need a copyright page if you want to add an extra layer of protection to your book — whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, a bestseller, or a book that sells 20 copies.

If you don’t have a copyright page, your book is still copyrighted. You don’t technically need a special page to copyright your book. It’s copyrighted from the moment you write it.

However, without the copyright page, your ownership may be harder to prove in a court of law.

A copyright page discourages plagiarism and announces you as the owner. Think of a “No Trespassing” sign. Without it, you still aren’t allowed to trespass. But the sign reinforces the idea.

Also, legal disclaimers can absolve you of any responsibility concerning certain parts of the book.

All you need on your copyright page is a copyright notice and a rights reserved notice. Like this:

However, there are several elements that you don’t need on a copyright page but that you might consider adding for various reasons.

Take a look at these free, editable copyright page templates to get started.

Template #1: The Simplest Copyright Page Possible

All you need is a copyright notice and a rights reserved notice to make your copyright page official. You have my permission to copy this template below and use it however you wish.

Template #2: Free Physical Book Copyright Page

If what you need is a physical book copyright page template to copy and paste into your self-published book, here it is. You have my permission to use it as you like.

Template #3: Free eBook Copyright Page Template

If all you need is an eBook copyright page template to copy and paste into your self-published book, here it is. Use it as you like — you have my full permission.

What does a copyright page include?

A copyright page may include the following 15 elements (though not all 15 appear on every copyright page):

1. Copyright notice (required)
2. Rights reserved notice (required)
3. ISBN
4. Library of Congress Control Number
5. Disclaimers
6. Permissions notice
7. Credits
8. Print edition
9. CIP data block
10. Ordering information
11. Author’s website
12. Printing details
13. Trademarks
14. Printer’s key
15. Publisher information

Only the copyright notice and rights reserved notice are technically required to make up a copyright page. But the other elements may help people get more info about you as an author, or about printing details, or about legal disclaimers that inevitably matter to someone.

I know it looks crazy. But don’t worry. I’ll explain each one below and provide an example for all 15 copyright page elements.

Format Beautiful Professional Books

Easy to use, and and full of amazing features, you can quickly turn your book into a professional book.

Check It Out

1. Copyright Notice

A copyright notice is 1 of 2 required elements on your copyright page. It lets the public know who published this, when they published it, and that the work is copyrighted.
The copyright notice (copyright statement) includes these 3 elements:

1. The copyright symbol ©, the word “Copyright,” or the abbreviation, “Copr.” (Choose one)
2. The first year of publication (or multiple years, denoting first and new edition’s publication)
3. The name of the copyright holder (presumably, your name or pen name)

Here is an example of the copyright notice:

What if I use a pen name?

Go ahead and use your pen name on the copyright page in your ebook. Or, alternatively, use your publishing company name.

When you register your copyright, include your real name and pen name on the registration form.

What if I write under my own LLC?

If your books are written and/or published under an LLC or sole proprietorship, you can list your company as the copyright owner on your copyright page in your ebook. There is no difference in the required language as long as you’re operating as a sole proprietorship or an LLC.

Use your company address when listing the publisher’s contact details. This can help protect you legally as well as physically as you grow as an author. (Your fans can send fan mail to your work address.)

To learn more about setting up your own publishing company, liability protection, tax benefits, and how copyright is affected, check out my article on creating your own publishing company.

2. Rights Reserved Notice (All Rights Reserved)

The rights reserved notice is the second of 2 required elements on your copyright page. You can simply state, “All rights reserved.” Or you can expound upon that statement, making it more precise and more forceful.

Here is a simple example of copyright notice and rights reserved notice put together:

© 2021 Dave Chesson. All rights reserved.

Seriously, that’s all you need. Technically, if you have the copyright notice and “All Rights Reserved,” then your book copyright page is complete.

All Rights Reserved Example #1 (Simplest)

All Rights Reserved.

All Rights Reserved Example #2

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, contact the publisher at: permissions@publisher.com.

All Rights Reserved Example #3

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law and fair use. For permission requests, write to the publisher “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

3. ISBN

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is an identifier for your book. It has no legal purpose. The worldwide publishing industry uses it to identify your book as unique from others.

List your ISBN on the copyright page. Not all books will have an ISBN number, but many will.

If you have more than one ISBN, you can list both for your readers’ reference.

Here’s what a print ISBN number will look like on a copyright page:

ISBN 978-1-4767-9386-4 (print)

Does my book need an ISBN?

Yes, your book usually needs an ISBN number. However, Amazon does explicitly not require you to input an ISBN number for your eBook.

That answer varies depending on where you are going to market your book. It is up to the store selling your book.

• Amazon (Kindle eBook): No
• Barnes and Noble (EPUB): Yes
• Apple iBook (EPUB): Yes
• Libraries and bookstores (print books): Yes

Check out my article on Self-Publishing Hardcover Books to learn more about ISBNs.

Where to get an ISBN in different countries:

• ISBN in the US – isbn.org
• ISBN in Canada – collectionscanada.gc.ca/publishers/index-e.html
• ISBN in the UK – nielsenisbnstore.com
• ISBN in Australia – bowker.com/products/ISBN-AU.html
• ISBN in New Zealand – natlib.govt.nz/publishers-and-authors/isbns-issns-and-ismns

Do I need a separate ISBN for each eBook format?

Yes, you will need separate ISBNs for the different formats of your ebook and your printed book. For example, if you have a Kindle format, EPUB, audiobook, softcover, and hardcover, you will need at least 4 different ISBNs (5, if you want one for your Kindle book, too).

Go to the ISBN-issuing website here for more details on ISBNs for eBooks.

Do I need an ISBN if I’m a self-publisher?

Yes, self-publishers need an ISBN number, just like any other publisher.

All US ISBNs are issued to publishers through a company called Bowker. Go to MyIdentifiers.com to get your official ISBN.

Pro tip: If you think you’ll be publishing more books (or more versions of your book) down the road, I’d recommend buying a set of 10 ISBNs as a package right away. You’ll get a steep discount that way.

Do I need an ISBN if I don’t live in America?

Yes, you need an ISBN in multiple countries besides America. Go to the International ISBN Agency to get your international ISBN.

4. Library of Congress Control Number

The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is a free number you can get that facilitates libraries cataloging your book. Authors can apply online to the Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program.

This is only necessary if you want your book shelved in libraries. Librarians won't shelf a book unless it lists an LCCN.

Side note: LCCN is a separate (but similar) number from the Cataloging in Publication (CIP) data block.

Here’s what an LCCN looks like on a copyright page:

5. Disclaimers

Disclaimers are where you deny responsibility for particular aspects of your book, such as denying characters were based on actual persons. A disclaimer helps protect the writer and publishing company from potential liability.

An entire book could be written on disclaimers alone. Because our society is increasingly prone to suing at every opportunity, book disclaimers have become a lot more common.

Some genres, like investing or health, might require specific language to stay compliant with the SEC.

For some sample disclaimer language, look inside other books of your genre published by traditional publishing companies large enough to have a legal staff.

A legal disclaimer in your book copyright page doesn’t have to be long. But a small disclaimer might save you a lot of trouble down the road.

Here’s Kindlepreneur’s disclaimer:

Below is another example of a disclaimer, but in a nonfiction book:

Here’s an example of a book disclaimer about the resemblance to actual places, people, or events:

6. Permissions Notice

You need to put in a permissions notice if you used any copyrighted material with permission from the owner. This announces that you sought and obtained the necessary permissions.

This is different from the next element, credits, because a permissions notice is needed if you used copyrighted material. Credits are a courtesy; you did not have to seek permission to use the book cover your designer made for your book.

Example of permissions notice on a copyright page:

7. Credits

Give credit to anyone who made a contribution to your book, such as:

• The graphic designer who created your book cover design
• Photographers whose photographs you used
• Your formatting service
• Editor(s)
• Proofreaders

Can I use a public domain photograph? You may use a photo in your book that is in the public domain. However, make sure it is actually public domain. No verbiage can protect you from accidentally using a copyrighted photo that you thought was public domain.

You do not have to disclose that you used public domain photos. You do not have to use the PD-US logo.

2 examples of credits on a copyright page:

8. Print Edition

Your book’s edition is a nice thing to include, especially if it is not the first edition. Simply write “Second Edition” or “Third Edition: December 2020”.

Here is an example of a print edition on your copyright page:

9. CIP (Cataloging in Publication) Data Block

Most self-published eBook authors won’t include a CIP data block. A Cataloging In Publication data block (CIP) is not required to publish or sell a book.

The Library of Congress can issue a CIP data block to authors. It is not something you can create for yourself. However, if you’re a self-publisher, you are not eligible to obtain a CIP data block.

You can, however, pay to have a P-CIP (Publisher’s Catalog-in-Publication) data block generated for you. Having P-CIP data might make your book look more professional. It costs anywhere from $60-$100 and can be done by CIPblock.com.

Frankly, the only people interested in seeing your CIP data will be librarians. CIP data exists to help them categorize (“catalog”) your book in the library more quickly and easily. Unless you plan to market your book specifically to librarians, CIP data is unnecessary.

A CIP data block example looks something like this:

A side note for Canadian self-published authors

The National Library of Canada will no longer issue a CIP for self-published books. However, they still offer some free services like ISBNs and others. If you're published, you can obtain your free CIP data by filling out their form here.

If you are located outside of Canada, check with your country’s local copyright laws to make the right choice about CIP data for your copyright page.

10. Ordering Information

The ordering information section includes info for people or organizations wishing to order more copies of your book. Different information may be listed for people looking to make individual orders, bulk orders for bookstores, college classroom orders, etc.

Often, ordering information doesn’t apply to self-published eBooks.

Example of ordering information on the copyright page:

11. Author's Website

Include your author website on your copyright page so readers can easily find more of your work.

Here’s an example of what an author’s website looks like on the copyright page:

12. Printing Details

On the copyright page, you can include any details about your publishing company’s environmentally-friendly printing practices, the location of printing, fonts you used, etc.

Here are 3 examples of printing details to include on the copyright page:

13. Trademarks

Disclose any trademarks your publisher may hold to names, logos, or imprints included in your book.

Example of a trademark on the copyright page:

14. Printer’s Key

The printer’s key is not typical for self-published books or eBooks.

Ever wonder what that strange, long string of numbers float along near the bottom of the copyright page means? Those numbers are actually there for the publisher’s production department. They represent the printing number (or sometimes, the printing year).

Every publisher has its own unique method. Typically, they are in descending order, from left to right. However, they can be in ascending or even in random order.

They were initially put there so that the book’s printing plates wouldn’t need to be remade with each reprint. The applicable number was simply removed from the plate.

However, as digital printing and ebooks take over, these are likely to go extinct.

Side note: These numbers are helpful for book collectors. Just look for the lowest number on the list; that’s the printing you have.

Another note: A printer’s key is different from the edition number. There may be multiple printings of the same edition.

In the example below, the printer’s key indicates we have a copy from the book’s 2nd printing:

15. Publisher's Information

For traditionally published books, the publisher’s information is usually included so that readers know who and how to contact for reproduction permissions. This may include their address (or just the city), website, social media, logo, or other contact information.

For self-published authors, you may put your name, pen name, and/or an author website in lieu of publisher info.

Below is an example of publisher information on the copyright page of a traditionally published book:

Other Copyright FAQs

How do I copyright my book?

Your book is copyrighted the moment you write it. You may want to register your copyright to make it more official and legally airtight. Read my article about how to copyright your book.

To register your copyright, visit copyright.gov. The copyrighting process takes 6-13 months, so you should probably publish your book before the copyright is fully registered.

When is my copyright protection effective?

Your copyright protection is effective when you create the content — the second you type words into your book writing software or put pen to paper.

However, registering your copyright adds an extra layer of protection.

We recommend everyone read this brief primer on copyright basics published by the U.S. Copyright Office.

Do I need to register my book with the U.S. Copyright Office for my copyright to be effective?

No, you do not need to register your book with the U.S. Copyright Office for your copyright to be effective.

However, there are benefits to doing so.

If you register your copyright, you can claim attorney fees and statutory damages, in addition to the actual damages and profits you get to claim with an unregistered book.

You can read more about this on the U.S. Copyright Office’s website. International authors will have to check their country’s unique copyright laws.

Do I register for copyright first, or do I submit my published work to Amazon first?

Before registering for your copyright, you should first submit your published work to Amazon KDP (or other booksellers).

At the time of writing, books take 6-13 months to be processed by the copyright office. There’s a lot of potential profit to be lost in those 6-13 months.

Share this handy article with your self-publishing colleagues!