If you are publishing your own book, the copyright page can look deceptively simple. It is usually only one page, tucked quietly behind the title page, yet it can contain important information about copyright ownership, publication, ISBNs, permissions, edition history and other identifying details.

For traditionally published authors, a publishing house normally prepares this page. Independent authors and small publishers often have to make those decisions themselves.

The good news is that a professional copyright page does not need to be complicated. It simply needs to contain the information that is appropriate for your particular book.

Start With the Copyright Notice

A typical copyright notice looks like this:

Copyright © 2026 Jane Smith

or:

© 2026 Jane Smith

The year generally represents the year of first publication, followed by the name of the copyright owner.

For modern U.S. works, a copyright notice is not required in order to receive copyright protection. Copyright exists automatically when an original work is created and fixed in tangible form, such as when a manuscript is written or saved electronically. However, the U.S. Copyright Office still identifies practical and legal benefits to displaying a copyright notice.

It is also important to understand the difference between copyright ownership and copyright registration. Registration is not what creates the copyright, but it establishes a public record and provides important enforcement benefits. For U.S. works, registration or refusal of registration is generally required before pursuing an infringement claim in federal court, and timely registration may make statutory damages and attorney fees available.

“All Rights Reserved”

Many books place the following immediately beneath the copyright notice:

All Rights Reserved.

Publishers may then include language explaining that the book may not be reproduced, stored or transmitted without permission, except where permitted by law.

That language is useful for communicating the copyright owner’s expectations, but it does not create copyright protection by itself. Nor does it override lawful exceptions such as fair use.

The wording can be relatively simple. For example:

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher, except as permitted by applicable copyright law.

The precise language should fit the book rather than being copied mechanically from another publisher’s page.

Publisher or Imprint Information

The copyright page usually identifies the publisher or publishing imprint.

For an independently published book, that may be the author’s own publishing company or imprint. A website or business email address can also be included if readers, reviewers, booksellers or librarians need a way to reach the publisher.

A home address does not need to be printed simply because you are self-publishing. If a physical publishing address is needed for a particular purpose, many independent publishers use a business mailing address rather than a residential address.

ISBNs

An International Standard Book Number, or ISBN, identifies a specific book product.

Different formats may require different ISBNs, so the copyright page might contain something such as:

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-234567-89-0
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-234567-90-6
eBook ISBN: 978-1-234567-91-3

An ISBN does not establish copyright ownership.

In the United States, Bowker is the official ISBN agency. Its terms distinguish the publisher assigning the ISBN from the underlying copyright rights: publishers are expected to assign their ISBNs only to publications for which they hold publishing rights.

That distinction matters. An ISBN identifies the publication and its publisher; copyright identifies legal rights in the creative work.

Library of Congress Control Number

Some eligible books also include a Library of Congress Control Number, or LCCN.

It might appear as:

Library of Congress Control Number: 2026123456

The LCCN is the identifier associated with the Library of Congress bibliographic record for a book. It is not a copyright registration number and does not establish ownership of the work.

Through the Preassigned Control Number program, eligible U.S. authors and publishers can request an LCCN for a forthcoming book before publication. The Library of Congress instructs recipients to print the number on the copyright page.

Not every book qualifies for the program, and an LCCN is not necessary for every publication.

Credits

The copyright page is also a convenient place to acknowledge people who contributed to the production of the book.

Depending on the project, credits might include:

Cover design by:
Interior design by:
Illustrations by:
Photography by:
Edited by:

These credits are optional, but they can be especially appropriate when creative professionals contributed substantial work to the publication.

Edition and Printing Information

Publishers may also identify the edition or printing:

First Edition, 2026

or:

First Printing, September 2026

This information becomes particularly useful when a title later receives a revised edition, second edition or substantially updated version.

Some books also state where they were printed, although that information is not universally required for a standard copyright page.

Disclaimers

Certain books may need a disclaimer.

A work of fiction, for instance, may state that characters and events are fictional or used fictitiously. A memoir may explain that names or identifying details have been changed. Books dealing with medical, financial, legal or other specialized subjects may need carefully drafted language explaining the limits of the information provided.

A disclaimer should match the actual book. One should not be copied simply because another book contains it.

Permissions and Third-Party Material

If the book contains material used with permission, the copyright page may also identify those permissions or direct readers to another permissions section.

This can apply to photographs, illustrations, lengthy quotations, previously published material or other copyrighted content owned by someone else.

There is no universal rule allowing an author to quote a certain number of words without permission. Fair use depends on the circumstances, including the purpose of the use, the nature of the original work, the amount used and the effect on the market for the original. The U.S. Copyright Office specifically notes that there is no fixed word count or percentage that automatically qualifies as fair use.

What a Copyright Page Does Not Do

Perhaps the easiest way to understand the copyright page is to recognize what it doesn’t do:

• It does not create your copyright.
• It does not replace copyright registration.
• An ISBN does not establish ownership of your manuscript.
• An LCCN does not register your copyright.

Instead, the copyright page acts as the book’s compact publishing record. It identifies ownership claims, publication details, editions, identifiers, credits and other information that readers, libraries, booksellers and publishing professionals may need.

For independent authors, learning to construct that page is part of becoming a publisher as well as a writer. A small page can carry a surprising amount of responsibility.

Originally published in 2016. Updated September 2026 to reflect current copyright, ISBN and Library of Congress guidance.