In most countries, copyright exists automatically as soon as you create a work, so the copyright page does not create your rights. It states them clearly, identifies the edition, and gives booksellers and librarians the information they need. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to include

  1. Copyright notice: "Copyright © 2026 by Author Name" (or the copyright holder, such as a company).
  2. Rights statement: a short "All rights reserved" paragraph, usually with an exception for brief quotations in reviews.
  3. Disclaimers: for fiction, a statement that characters and events are fictional; for health, finance or legal topics, a statement that the book is not professional advice.
  4. ISBNs: one per format, each labelled (paperback, hardcover, ebook).
  5. Credits: cover designer, illustrator, editor, translator, photographers, and permissions for quoted material.
  6. Publisher details: imprint name, city, website or contact.
  7. Edition and printing: "First edition 2026" and optionally a printing line (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1).
  8. Library data: a Library of Congress Control Number or CIP data block if you have one.
  9. Optional: printed-in statement, paper/sustainability notes, prior publication credits for stories or essays, trademark acknowledgements.

Template

Copyright © 2026 by Author Name

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems,
without written permission from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations
in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the
products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

ISBN 978-x-xxxxx-xxx-x (paperback)
ISBN 978-x-xxxxx-xxx-x (hardcover)
ISBN 978-x-xxxxx-xxx-x (ebook)

Cover design by Designer Name
Edited by Editor Name

Published by Imprint Name, City
www.example.com

First edition 2026
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Formatting tips

  • Set it smaller than body text (8–9 pt), left-aligned or centred, often at the bottom of the page.
  • Keep it on the verso behind the title page; do not number the page.
  • Update the ISBN and edition line for every new edition and format.
  • In ebooks, keep it short and place it after the title page or at the back.

Optional registration

Some countries offer copyright registration with legal benefits; in the United States, registering with the Copyright Office is a prerequisite for suing over infringement of a US work and can make statutory damages available. Many countries also require legal deposit of copies with a national library.