Copyright Page Example: Templates for Fiction and Non-Fiction

A copyright page is the short block of legal and publishing details printed on the back of the title page. At minimum it holds a copyright notice (© year and owner's name), a rights statement, and the ISBN for that edition. Most books also add the edition, the publisher or imprint, and a disclaimer. Copy-ready templates for fiction and non-fiction are below, followed by a step-by-step guide to filling them in.

What do you need before you start?

Gather these details first so you can fill in the page in one pass:

• The copyright owner's name. This is usually your legal name or your pen name. If you publish through a company you own, it may be the company.
• The year of first publication. Use the year the book is first released to the public, not the year you started writing.
• Your ISBNs, if you have them. Each format (paperback, hardcover, ebook) gets its own ISBN when you use one. Not sure you need one? Read do I need an ISBN.
• Your publisher or imprint name. This can be your own imprint or the name attached to a free ISBN.
• Credits you want to include. Examples are the cover designer, editor, or illustrator, plus any permissions for quoted material.
• Your finished front matter order. The copyright page sits among the opening pages. If you are still arranging them, see what is front matter in a book.

What goes on a copyright page?

Very little of the page is legally required. In countries that follow the Berne Convention, copyright exists from the moment you create the work, with or without a notice. The page still matters. It tells readers, retailers, and anyone thinking of copying your work who owns it and which edition they are holding.

Element	Needed?	Example
Copyright notice	Strongly recommended	© 2025 Jane Example
Rights reserved statement	Recommended	All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced…
ISBN	Only if the edition has one	ISBN 978-0-000000-00-0 (paperback)
Edition / printing	Recommended	First edition, 2025
Publisher or imprint	Recommended	Published by Example Press
Disclaimer	Recommended; wording depends on genre	This is a work of fiction…
Credits	Optional	Cover design by… / Edited by…
Permissions	Required if you quote protected material	Lyrics from "Song Title" used by permission of…
LCCN / CIP data	Optional; mainly US print	Library of Congress Control Number: …
Contact or website	Optional	www.example.com

Step 1: Write the copyright notice

The standard notice has three parts: the © symbol (or the word "Copyright"), the year of first publication, and the owner's name.

© 2025 Jane Example

Many authors write both the word and the symbol ("Copyright © 2025 Jane Example"). Doing so is harmless and common.

If you write under a pen name, you can put the pen name in the notice. Some authors prefer their legal name, or a company name, for privacy or business reasons. Pick one and use it the same way everywhere. What is a pen name covers the trade-offs.

The notice shows ownership. It is not the same as registering your copyright. If you want the extra legal standing that registration gives in some countries, such as the US, read how to copyright a book.

Step 2: Add a rights reserved statement

This line tells readers what they may not do without permission. The short version is enough:

All rights reserved.

Most books expand it into a sentence that names common exceptions:

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author, except for brief quotations in reviews.

Some authors now add a line about AI training, such as: "No part of this book may be used to train artificial intelligence systems without permission." Whether that line can be enforced is still unsettled. Treat it as a statement of your wishes, not a guarantee.

Step 3: Add the ISBN for each format

List the ISBN for the edition the reader is holding. Many self-publishers list every format's ISBN on every edition, with a label for each:

ISBN 978-0-000000-00-0 (paperback) ISBN 978-0-000000-01-7 (ebook)

Two rules to keep in mind:

1. Each format needs its own ISBN. A paperback and a hardcover cannot share one.
2. Ebooks often don't need one. Under each store's published terms, Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Kobo do not require an ISBN for ebooks. KDP assigns an ASIN, and Google assigns its own identifier. Confirm the current rules in each store's dashboard.

Print rules differ by store. KDP paperbacks need an ISBN, and KDP offers a free one that can only be used with KDP. IngramSpark requires your own ISBN for each format and does not accept a free KDP ISBN.

If you have a 10-digit ISBN and need the 13-digit form (or the reverse), use the ISBN converter. Make sure the ISBN on the copyright page matches the one on the back cover barcode and in the store listing exactly.

Step 4: State the edition and printing

Tell readers which version they are holding:

First edition, 2025

When you make significant changes, such as new chapters, rewritten sections, or updated facts, call it a new edition and add a line:

Second edition, 2027. First published 2025.

Traditional publishers often use a printer's key, a row of numbers like "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1." They delete the lowest number with each reprint. With print-on-demand there are no separate print runs, so most self-publishers skip the key and use the edition line instead.

Step 5: Name the publisher or imprint

The publisher line shows who released the book:

Published by Example Press www.example.com

If you set up your own imprint, use its name here and in your store metadata. Imprint explains what an imprint is and why authors create one.

If you use KDP's free ISBN, KDP sets the imprint on that edition. Check KDP's ISBN help page for the current wording, and use the same name on your copyright page so the two don't conflict. If you have no imprint at all, "Published by Jane Example" is fine.

Step 6: Add the right disclaimer

The disclaimer depends on what kind of book you wrote.

Fiction:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

General non-fiction:

The information in this book is provided for general informational purposes. The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure accuracy but assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any outcomes from the use of this information.

Health, fitness, or nutrition:

This book is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other qualified professional. Consult a healthcare provider before beginning any diet, exercise, or treatment program.

Finance, legal, or business:

This book does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.

Memoir:

This is a work of nonfiction based on the author's recollections. Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

A disclaimer is not a legal shield. If your book makes claims that could cause harm or touches on defamation risk, have a lawyer review it. A good disclaimer also doesn't replace accurate content. Check every fact, figure, and recipe yourself.

Step 7: Add credits, permissions, and optional extras

Add the following only if they apply:

• Credits: "Cover design by…", "Edited by…", "Interior illustrations by…"
• Permissions: Any lyrics, poems, or long quotations still under copyright need written permission, plus the credit line the rights holder asks for.
• AI disclosure: No universal rule says this must appear on the copyright page. Stores may ask about AI-generated content during upload, though. See KDP AI content disclosure. Some authors add a voluntary note such as "Portions of this book were drafted with AI assistance and edited by the author."
• Library of Congress data: US authors can request an LCCN before publication. Cataloging-in-Publication (CIP) data is typically limited to established publishers, so most self-publishers can't get it through the Library of Congress directly.
• "Printed in…" line: Print-on-demand books may be printed in different countries depending on where they are ordered. Many self-publishers leave this line off.
• Website or contact address for permission requests.

Step 8: Place and format the page

In a print book, the copyright page goes on the back (left-hand, even-numbered side) of the title page. It usually has no visible page number, but it still counts in the page sequence.

Formatting tips:

• Use a smaller font than the body text. A point or two smaller is typical.
• Align the text to the left or center it, and place it near the bottom of the page or in the middle.
• Keep generous spacing between groups such as the notice, the rights statement, the ISBNs, and the disclaimer.

In ebooks, the copyright page often sits right after the title page. Some authors move it to the back so the store's free preview opens on the story. Either position is accepted.

If you drafted your book in Inkora, the book is yours, so the notice goes in your name or your imprint's. You can export a DOCX to fine-tune the copyright page layout. You can also export EPUB 3 and a print-ready interior PDF for the stores. Before uploading, check that the ISBNs on the page match your publishing kit metadata.

Copyright page example for fiction

Replace the bracketed parts and delete any lines you don't need.

Copyright © [Year] [Author or pen name]

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author, except for brief quotations used in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

ISBN [number] (paperback) ISBN [number] (ebook)

Cover design by [Name] Edited by [Name]

First edition, [Year]

Published by [Imprint name] [Website]

Copyright page example for non-fiction

Copyright © [Year] [Author name]

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact [email or website].

Disclaimer: The information in this book is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional [medical / financial / legal] advice. The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the information was accurate at the time of publication but accept no liability for errors, omissions, or outcomes from its use.

[Permissions, e.g. "Excerpt from Title by Author, © Year, reprinted by permission of Rights Holder."]

ISBN [number] (hardcover) ISBN [number] (paperback) ISBN [number] (ebook)

Library of Congress Control Number: [number, if you have one]

First edition, [Year]

Published by [Imprint name] [Website]

Does the copyright page change between ebook and paperback?

The wording mostly stays the same. Two details should change:

• The ISBN line. On each edition, either list only that edition's ISBN or label every ISBN clearly by format.
• Print-only details. Lines such as a printer's key or "Printed in…" don't belong in an ebook.

If your ebook has no ISBN, simply leave that line out. The ASIN or store identifier does not need to appear on the page.

Common problems and fixes

The ISBN on the copyright page doesn't match the barcode. This often happens after switching from a free KDP ISBN to your own. Update the interior file and re-upload it. A mismatch can confuse retailers and libraries, and some stores may flag it.

You used the same ISBN for the paperback and the hardcover. Assign a new ISBN to one format. Update its copyright page, cover barcode, and store listing together.

The imprint name conflicts with your ISBN record. Pick one name. Then make the copyright page, the store's publisher field, and your ISBN agency record all match.

You forgot permission for quoted lyrics or poems. Remove the material or get written permission before publishing. If the book is already live, upload a corrected file. Song lyrics are a frequent problem because even short excerpts can require permission.

You published under your legal name but want a pen name. Update the notice and the author name in a new interior file and the store metadata. For print, check whether the store treats the change as a new edition that needs a new ISBN.

You revised the book and aren't sure about the year. Small typo fixes don't need a new year or edition. For substantial revisions, add a new edition line and the new year, and keep the original publication year as well.

The copyright page appears as the first thing in your ebook preview. Move it after the title page, or to the back of the ebook, and re-export.

Your copyright page only needs to be accurate and consistent with your ISBNs, imprint, and store listings. Copy the template that fits your book and fill in the brackets. Check every number against your cover and dashboard before you upload.