The copyright page: what goes on it (copy-paste template included)
The copyright page sits on the verso (left-hand page) right after the title page. Readers skim past it, but professionals read it first, and a missing or misplaced one is an instant amateur tell. Here is every element, what it is for, and then a block you can copy straight into your book.
The elements, one by one
Copyright line
The core notice: the copyright symbol, the year of first publication, and the name of the rights holder. For example: © 2026 Author Name. The year is the year the book is published; the name is whoever owns the rights, usually you or your imprint.
All rights reserved statement
A sentence reserving reproduction rights. The standard phrasing states that no part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted without written permission, often with an exception for brief quotations in reviews.
ISBN(s), one per format
Each format, paperback, hardcover, ebook, normally carries its own ISBN, and it is conventional to list each one labeled by format. A single ISBN identifies one edition in one format. If you have an ISBN for only one format, list only that one.
Edition and printing line
A short line noting the edition (First Edition) and, for later runs, the printing. This helps libraries and collectors, and signals care. Many books include a printer's key (a descending row of numbers) as well.
Publisher or imprint name
Your publishing name and, optionally, a city or contact address or website. If you self-publish under an imprint, this is where it appears.
Fiction disclaimer
Standard in novels: a statement that the work is fiction and that names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously, and that any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Non-fiction or advice disclaimer
Where relevant, non-fiction, self-help, health, financial, or how-to books add a disclaimer limiting liability, for example noting that the content is for general information and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use the version that fits your subject.
Credits
A line or two crediting cover design, editing, and sometimes interior design or illustration. This is both courtesy and professionalism.
Optional: Library of Congress line and printing country
Some publishers include a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) or Cataloging-in-Publication data, which is optional for self-publishers. Many books also close with the country of printing, for example Printed in the United States of America.
The copy-paste template
Replace the bracketed parts with your own details, delete any lines you do not need (for instance, keep the fiction or the advice disclaimer, not both), and paste it onto the verso page after your title page. It is deliberately plain so it drops cleanly into any interior.
Three honest notes
- This is not legal advice. It is a general, widely-used pattern. If your situation is unusual, or the stakes are high, consult a qualified attorney.
- The page does not create your copyright. In most countries copyright arises automatically the moment you fix the work in tangible form. The page announces and documents ownership; it does not grant it.
- Registration is separate. Formally registering with your national copyright office (in the US, the Copyright Office) is an optional, separate step from printing the notice. Registration can strengthen your legal remedies but is not what the copyright page does.
Get the copyright page right and it disappears, which is the goal. Get it wrong, or leave it out, and it is one of the ten things that make a book look self-published. Where it sits in your opening pages, and how to number the front matter around it, is covered in formatting a book in Word.
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Start Your BookFrequently asked questions
What has to be on a book copyright page?
At minimum: a copyright line (the symbol, the year, and the rights holder's name), an all rights reserved statement, and your ISBN or ISBNs by format. Most books also add the edition or printing line, the publisher or imprint name, a fiction or advice disclaimer where relevant, credits for cover and editing, and the country of printing.
Does a copyright page create my copyright?
No. In most countries copyright exists automatically the moment you create the work in fixed form. The copyright page announces and documents that ownership and deters casual copying, but it does not create the right. Formal registration with a copyright office is a separate, optional step that can strengthen legal remedies.
Do I need a separate ISBN for each format?
Generally yes. Each distinct format, paperback, hardcover, and ebook, is typically assigned its own ISBN, and it is conventional to list each one on the copyright page labeled by format. A single ISBN identifies a single edition and format.
Is a fiction disclaimer legally required?
It is not strictly required, but it is standard practice in fiction to state that names, characters, and events are products of the imagination and that any resemblance to real people is coincidental. Non-fiction, self-help, and advice books commonly add their own disclaimer limiting professional or medical liability. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
General information on standard book front-matter practice, not legal advice. Related: Why your book looks self-published · Formatting a book in Word · What fonts real books use · KDP previewer margin errors · All guides