What goes on a book copyright page?

The copyright page is the small print page near the front of your book, usually on the reverse of the title page, that brings together its copyright and publishing details.

Most readers will flick straight past it, but when you are publishing your own book it is worth getting right. The good news is that it is much less complicated than it looks. A copyright page is really just a handful of standard pieces of information, and not every book needs all of them.

It is one of the standard pages in your front matter, and our guide to how to structure a book shows where it sits alongside the title page, contents and other opening pages.

The copyright page makes ownership clear

Copyright is about who owns the words, images and other original material in your book, and who is allowed to use them.

You do not gain copyright simply by putting a copyright page in your book. Copyright normally exists automatically once you create the work. The page is still useful because it states that ownership clearly and gives readers, booksellers, libraries and anyone else dealing with the book an obvious place to find its publishing information.

For most books, the page starts with a copyright notice and then adds whichever other details apply.

Start with the copyright notice

The familiar copyright notice usually contains three things: the copyright symbol, the year the work was first published and the name of the copyright owner.

For example:

© 2026 Jane Author

Although a copyright notice is not legally required for modern works in the US, it remains standard publishing practice and there is very little reason not to include one.

If you want to formally register your copyright in the US, that is a separate process through the US Copyright Office. The copyright page records your claim to the work, but it is not itself a copyright registration.

If the book is a later edition, it is often clearer to record that separately with wording such as "First published 2022" and "Second edition 2026."

Most books also include an "all rights reserved" statement

This usually sits just below the copyright notice and explains that the book cannot be copied, reproduced or distributed without permission.

There is no single compulsory wording. A typical version might say that no part of the book may be reproduced without written permission from the copyright owner, while allowing brief quotations for reviews or criticism.

Copyright law still allows certain uses whether or not your statement mentions them, so this wording does not give you absolute control over every quotation or reference to the book. Its purpose is simply to make your rights clear.

List the ISBNs for each edition

If your book has ISBNs, the copyright page is the usual place to list them.

A paperback and hardcover, for example, need separate ISBNs because they are different products:

ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X, paperback
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X, hardcover

A separately published ebook will also normally have its own ISBN where one is being assigned, although some ebook platforms use their own identifiers and do not require you to supply one.

The important thing is not to reuse the same ISBN for different formats. There is more on this in our guide to what an ISBN is.

Some books need a disclaimer

A disclaimer is not necessary for every book, but it can be sensible where readers might otherwise make assumptions about the material.

A novel may include the familiar statement that the characters and events are fictional. A health, fitness, finance or other advice based book may need wording explaining the limits of the information and how it should be used.

The disclaimer should suit the actual book. If the subject involves significant legal, financial or safety issues, this is one of the areas where it is worth getting proper legal advice rather than relying on generic wording.

Permissions and credits can sit here too

If you have reproduced material belonging to someone else, the copyright page is a useful place to record the relevant permissions and credits.

That might include photographs, illustrations, extracts or other copyrighted material you have permission to use. Rights holders will sometimes specify exactly how their credit needs to appear.

You can also credit the people who helped produce the book, such as the cover designer, book designer, illustrator, proofreader or indexer. If the list becomes long, a separate credits or permissions page may work better.

Personal thanks to friends and family belong on the acknowledgments page rather than here.

Publishing and edition details finish the page

The copyright page is also a good place to record the publisher or imprint, the edition and any useful contact information.

You might include the publisher name, website and wording such as "First published 2026." If the book has been revised or republished, the publishing history can be recorded here too.

Some US books also include a Library of Congress Control Number. Most books do not need one, and they are not typical for self published books. If you have an LCCN, it can be listed on the copyright page, but it is entirely optional and separate from both the ISBN and copyright.

For print on demand books, there is no need to invent a traditional print run history. Copies may be produced individually as they are ordered, so the publication and edition details are usually all that is useful.

So, what does a copyright page actually need?

For a straightforward book, surprisingly little. A clear copyright notice, a short rights statement, the relevant ISBNs and your publishing details will cover most of it. Disclaimers, permissions, credits and other information can be added where they genuinely apply.

The copyright page does not need to become a wall of legal sounding text. Its job is simply to record the important information clearly.

If we are formatting your book, we put the copyright page together as part of our book formatting services, alongside the rest of the front matter. And if a question moves beyond normal publishing information into the finer points of copyright, permissions or liability, that is the point to talk to a copyright lawyer.