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Copyright Page Samples You Can Copy and Paste Into Your Book
One of the most common questions I get from new self-publishers is, “What do I put
on the copyright page?” For some reason, the copyright page has the power to
intimidate some people, with its small print and legalistic language, not to
mention all those mysterious numbers.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a few necessary items on the
copyright page, and others that publishers add for various reasons. I’ve treated
the copyright page in some detail in other posts, so if you want background please
check here: Self-Publishing Basics: The Copyright Page. In a guest post, Joanne
Bolton supplied some useful information for books that are printed overseas, and
you can find her post here: Copyright Page Requirements for Books Printed Overseas.
To see the place of the copyright page within the book as a whole, check out An
Unabridged List of the Parts of a Book.
The only elements required on a copyright page are the copyright notice itself:
And some statement giving notice that the rights to reproduce the work are reserved
to the copyright holder.
Next you’ll see two versions of the copyright page, one long page with a CIP data
block and a short version. Feel free to copy and paste these into your book file.
Just remember to put your own information in.
Sample of a Long Copyright Page with CIP Data Block
Here’s an example of a copyright page that has the necessary elements, then adds
ordering information, web address, CIP Data block (I’ve put this in blue so you can
identify what is included; replace this with your own or delete it if you’re not
obtaining CIP), edition information, and printing numbers (the string at the
bottom) and dates for future editions.
Imaginary Press
1233 Pennsylvania Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94909
www.imaginarypress.com
Ordering Information:
Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by
corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the
address above.
Orders by U.S. trade bookstores and wholesalers. Please contact Big Distribution:
Tel: (800) 800-8000; Fax: (800) 800-8001 or visit www.bigbooks.com.
First Edition
14 13 12 11 10 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 0-9000000-0-0
www.FallingAnvilBooks.com
This is the quick and easy way to get generic copyright page language into your
book. Even with this short example, your copyright page will do the job it’s
supposed to do, and give interested parties the means to contact you for
publishing-related questions.
Next: Tomorrow we’ll cover using disclaimers and giving credit on the copyright
page. Watch for it, and let me know if you have questions about the copyright page.
I’ll see if I can answer them.
copyrightWant to know more about copyright? Need some sample copyright pages to
drop into your book? Confused about the things you read online about copyright?
Check out this 30-page easy-to-read guide. Click The Self-Publisher’s Quick & Easy
Guide to Copyright for more info, or Buy Now as PDF or Kindle.
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FILED UNDER: BOOK CONSTRUCTION BLUEPRINT, EDITORIAL, LEGAL ISSUES, SELF-PUBLISHING
TAGGED WITH: CIP, COPYRIGHT
journal marketing
Comments
Harrison Aniebiet says
This is really valuable, thanks for taking your time to share this valuable taught
with us. Hoping to write my book shortly, I’d apply this knowledge here
Reply
Margaret Gee says
Having just signed my Revocable Trust documents, I’ve also had prepared an
Assignment to transfer all my previous novels into the Trust. For future novels I
write, I will list myself as author and the Trust as claimant when registering with
the Copyright Office. On the copyright page of my next novel, would I then list the
Trust after the copyright symbol and year, or would just my name be sufficient or
do I list both the Trust and my name? And do I need to revise the copyright pages
of my previous novels to reflect the Trust?
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Margaret, I have had a trust listed on the copyright page of a book I worked on. We
got the exact wording needed from the author’s attorneys. I would recommend you
check with your estate and intellectual property attorney for the correct wording
for your book.
Reply
Ravi Chauhan says
Nice Tutorials
Reply
Sara Joe says
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Richard Bell says
I have read everything and still have one basic question. I am going to convert
from CS only and get an ISBN so I can do Ingram. I am just an individual indie
author with no company. What do I do about the Imprint? Can I use my own name as
author and publisher? What are my options to be as simple as possible?
Thanks for your help and I hope you still monitor this link.
Regards,
Richard Bell
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Richard, this article has some information and options for you:
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2015/02/a-quick-lesson-about-publishers-imprints-
createspace-and-bowker/.
Reply
Melissa says
What would be the correct footer for a book (it’s a planner) copyrighted in 2010
and edited in 2017. Is this OK (c would be correct symbol):
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
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john says
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Joel Friedlander says
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Margaret says
haha
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Warren Paul Harris says
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Sharon Goldinger says
Warren,
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Timothy Archibong Esu says
Timothy
Reply
ZilWerks says
In old days the lead casting had the numbers on them, and when they printed another
set (edition) of a book they simply struck off the number.
I am perhaps the last of my generation to learn hot-type.
Reply
Joel Friedlander says
Zil, there are plenty of us still around who learned hot type, locked up forms, and
did make ready. Welcome.
Reply
Yvette says
Thanks for this useful info. Can i also use the above sample for service or
eCommerce copyright?
Reply
hazel says
i would like to ask if i can use this for my story on wattpad ? i will use the
short copyright
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Hazel, feel free to copy and paste the samples above (as applicable) into your book
file. Just remember to put your own information in.
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Brittany says
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Mbalenhle says
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Manasa says
Thanks ,
Manasa
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Angel says
Thank you for this! I’m would like to ask for your permission to use “Short
Copyright Page Example” for our school project which is a collection of poems.
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Angel, feel free to copy and paste these into your book file. Just remember to put
your own information in.
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Sharon Goldinger says
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Rain Wolfe says
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Joel Friedlander says
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Rain Wolfe says
Thanks Joel!
Reply
Lázaro A. dos Santos says
Alô. Eu gostaria de saber como e onde eu devo registrar as minhas fotos! Ficarei
muito agradecido se desde já pela vossa preciosa ajuda.
Reply
George Garrigues says
“Hello. I would like to know how and where I should register my pics! I will be
very thankful for your precious help from now on.”
You don’t need to “register,” or “registrar,” any photos. You own the
copyright merely by creating them. What exactly are you trying to do?
Reply
Elizabeth says
Hello and thanks so much for this info. If I do not own a registered copyright, can
I still have some verbiage on my title page saying that the images, story, etc.
cannot be used?
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Yes, Elizabeth, you can and you should. The copyright registration has to do with
potential lawsuits and damages. You work is your work and you own it regardless of
whether you’ve registered it or not. Although you should register it within ninety
days of your publication date, it’s never too late. So you can still do it now.
Reply
Regina Clarke says
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Joel Friedlander says
Regina,
I couldn’t be happier that we were able to help. Good luck with your books, and
thanks for leaving this comment today.
Reply
Joel Friedlander says
NO PROBLEM
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Gernel says
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sandeep chakraborty says
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Sharon Goldinger says
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shelly M. Loke says
What are the purpose of these numbers and codes in your example?
14 13 12 11 10 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Shelly, those numbers are part of the CIP (cataloging in publication) data right
above those numbers needed and used by libraries.
Reply
Arvind Agrawal says
Hi
So informative your website is!
Regarding those CIP No (HF0000.A0 A00 2010
299.000 00–dc22 2010999999
14 13 12 11 10 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1)
@ q’s
1. I still did not understand how to get it (from where to get it) as an author.
2. Those LC Parmalinks: are they available to publishers in US only? Can I get it
if I am publishing on Kindle Direct Publishing?
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Hi, Arvind, the following article has the answers to your questions:
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/03/cip-what-it-means-how-to-read-it-who-
should-get-it/.
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Ekjot says
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Bridget says
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Chris DiMattei says
Thank for this, it is very helpful. Quick question. Can copyright be held by a
deceased author? I am finishing a book started by another author, who has since,
passed away. Should I be the copyright holder, or can it still be held by both
myself and the initial author, who passed away? Thanks.
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Interesting question, Chris. Check out the copyright FAQs for more details like
this one: https://www.copyright.gov/eco/help-author.html.
Reply
George Garrigues says
The rights of the deceased author pass on to his estate, so his or her heirs or
assigns might have a claim against any income from the sale of the book. Better
consult a lawyer.
Reply
KKM says
It’s the original author’s property, still, and will be for fifty years since his
or her passing. It is not in the public domain yet, so it’s still under the
protection of copyright laws. Definitely don’t write or meddle with someone else’s
work, unless you have expressed permission to do so (e.g. fanfiction).
Reply
Gina Davis says
Hi, My partner and I are working on a Workshop book. The book will only be
delivered digitally. It’s possible in the future we might opt to print the Workshop
book.
Reply
Avinash says
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Sharon Goldinger says
Avinash, there are many articles on copyright on our site. I think this one is a
good one to start with to answer your question:
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2015/03/stop-thief-writers-and-plagiarism/. It
talks about what you can use from other people’s writings. You might also consider
hiring an intellectual property attorney to discuss this matter with. He or she can
review your site and its contents as well as answer your questions and advise you.
Reply
George Garrigues says
If you haven’t copied anything from another book or work, you should be OK. If
you’ve directly copied wording (not just ideas), keep it to just a few lines and be
sure to credit the guy or gal whose work you’ve cited.
Reply
Magrit says
I had a book published in another country, got the copyright and ISBN of it. Now I
translated it to English and want to publish the English version. In the copyright
page, I would like to mention that this book was translated from the original. How
i do it? Do I mention the copyright info from the first book done overseas with its
ISBN and then add the copyright and ISBN for the English version? Any model for
this?
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
JANUARY 31, 2017 AT 6:18 AM
Magrit, yes, there is a model for what information to include on the copyright
page. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is the style manual for the publishing
industry. See CMS 1.29 (and figure 1.3 for a sample) of what you’re asking about.
You can either purchase the book or you can check out the CMS site
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html.
Reply
Aimee Clark says
Thanks for this! Is it important to include an address? I don’t want people reading
my recipe e-book to see my home address, which is where I work from. Can I just
include email and website information and it still be legal? Thanks �
Reply
Sharon Goldinger says
Aimee, I like to include an address but never a home address. You can get a Mail
Boxes, etc., UPS Store, etc., address for your publishing company. But if you
don’t, then an e-mail and website is fine.
Reply
Aimee Clark says
Thank you!
Reply
« Older Comments
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Make Your Own Word Search Book! | My Word Search says:
October 29, 2018 at 1:13 am
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October 4, 2018 at 1:42 pm
[…] To copyright your book, complete an application at by clicking here. Once you
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Use of about half a publicly available photo was fair use - Copyright/Intellectual
Property - - The Passive Voice says:
June 25, 2018 at 10:11 am
[…] Make certain that you include a copyright notice in each version of your book.
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February 27, 2018 at 10:36 am
[…] Protect your creation. Prepare a copyright page for your book. The copyright
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printing and then your name. The book’s ISBN number needs to be on this page as
well as a phrase that the right to reproduce your work is reserved to you. A good
sample of a copyright page can be found on this website: Copyright Page Sample […]
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October 28, 2017 at 9:47 am
[…] for each format of your book (along with a different ISBN). If you’re unsure
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Tidbits | Mestengo Books says:
September 5, 2017 at 11:56 am
[…] time I gave examples of long and short copyright pages that you can use in your
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August 16, 2017 at 4:53 pm
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