A book copyright page is the short page, usually on the back of the title page, that states who owns the copyright, when the book was first published, who published it and its ISBN. A basic one needs only a copyright notice (the © symbol, the year of first publication and the owner’s name), an “all rights reserved” line, the publisher or imprint name and the ISBN. Everything else, such as disclaimers, edition details and credits, is optional but useful.

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This guide explains what goes on a copyright page and why, then gives copy-ready templates for fiction, non-fiction, ebooks, children’s books and pen-name books, with notes on AI statements and legal deposit in the US, UK and Australia. It is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your own rights or a contract, speak to a qualified lawyer or your country’s copyright advice body.

At a glance

• In most countries copyright exists automatically when you create the work; the copyright page states ownership, it does not create it.
• The US Copyright Office’s Circular 3 lists the three parts of a notice: © (or “Copyright”), year of first publication, owner’s name.
• Each format with its own ISBN (paperback, hardcover, ebook) should have its own correct ISBN on its own copyright page.
• KDP asks you to tell it about AI-generated content when you publish; a statement on the copyright page is optional and separate from that.
• Legal deposit is a separate duty: in Australia and the UK, self-publishers based there are expected to deposit a copy within one month of publication.

Do you legally need a copyright page?

In most countries that belong to the Berne Convention, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, copyright protection arises automatically when an original work is created. You do not have to register or print a notice to own your copyright.

That said, a notice still has practical value. The US Copyright Office’s Circular 3 explains that notice has been optional for works published on or after 1 March 1989, but that when a proper notice appears on published copies, a court gives no weight to a defendant’s claim of “innocent infringement” in the US. More practically, readers, librarians, retailers and anyone wanting permission to quote you expect to find the copyright page and use it to see who to ask. Our guide to legal basics for self-publishers covers copyright law, registration and trademarks in more depth; this page focuses on what to print.

What goes on a copyright page

Element	Needed?	Example	Why include it
Copyright notice	Strongly recommended	Copyright © 2026 Jane Example	States ownership and first publication year
Rights statement	Recommended	All rights reserved.	Signals that permission is needed to copy
Permissions line	Recommended	No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission, except brief quotations in reviews.	Spells out the usual exception for reviewers
ISBN	If you have one for that format	ISBN 978-0-0000-0000-0 (paperback)	Identifies the exact edition for retailers and libraries
Publisher or imprint	Recommended	Published by Example Books	Matches the publisher name tied to your ISBN
Edition and printing	Optional	First edition 2026	Tells readers and collectors which version they hold
Disclaimer	Usual for fiction and advice books	See templates below	Sets expectations about fiction or general information
Credits	Optional	Cover design by…, Edited by…	Acknowledges the team, and any licensed images
Permissions for quoted material	Required if you quote others under permission	Lines from… reproduced with permission of…	Meets the conditions of your permissions
AI statement	Optional	See below	Tells readers how the book was made
Website	Optional	[your website address]	Helps readers and rights buyers find you

Book copyright page templates

Replace the details in square brackets. Keep the text short; most copyright pages fit comfortably on one page in a smaller font than the main text.

Novel copyright page (fiction)

• Copyright © [year] [author or rights-holder 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 publisher, except for brief quotations in reviews.
• This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental.
• Published by [imprint name], [city or country]
• ISBN [number] ([format])
• Cover design by [name]
• First edition [year]

Non-fiction copyright page

• Copyright © [year] [author or rights-holder name]. All rights reserved.
• No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission, except for brief quotations in reviews or as permitted by law.
• Disclaimer: This book provides general information only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. The author and publisher make no guarantee of results and accept no liability for actions taken based on its contents. Readers should seek advice from a qualified professional about their own circumstances.
• Published by [imprint name]
• ISBN [number] ([format])
• [Credits for any quoted or licensed material]

Match the disclaimer to the subject. A health, finance or legal book needs a clear “seek professional advice” line; a memoir may need a note that some names and identifying details have been changed.

Ebook copyright page

Ebook copyright pages are often placed at the back so the sample shows more of the story; check your retailer’s current guidance on front matter before deciding. Use the ebook ISBN if you have one, or leave the ISBN line out if you are publishing without one on a platform that allows it. Add a line such as “This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment” only if it suits your tone. Our guide to formatting an ebook explains front and back matter placement.

Children’s book copyright page

Picture books often place the copyright page at the back or in small type on the last spread to save pages. Include both creators if the illustrator holds their own copyright: “Text copyright © [year] [author]. Illustrations copyright © [year] [illustrator].” Your agreement with the illustrator decides who owns what, so check it before printing. Our guide to self-publishing a children’s book covers illustrator agreements.

Pen-name copyright page

You can state copyright in your pen name, your legal name or a company name. Many authors who want privacy use the pen name or a company: “Copyright © [year] [pen name]”. If you use a company, make sure the rights have actually been assigned to it. Our guide to pen names covers the privacy and business side.

AI statements on a copyright page

KDP’s content guidelines require you to tell KDP about AI-generated content (text, images or translations created by an AI tool) when you publish a new book or republish an edited one. AI-assisted content, where you wrote the work and used AI tools to edit, check or brainstorm, does not need to be disclosed under those guidelines. That disclosure is made to KDP during publishing; it is not a printed copyright-page requirement.

Some authors still choose to add a statement for readers. Two common forms:

• Disclosure: “The cover image was created with the help of [tool] and edited by [designer].” Honest and simple.
• Reservation: “The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for training generative AI.” How much weight such a statement carries depends on the law in each country and is still developing, so treat it as a statement of your wishes rather than a guarantee.

ISBN, imprint and edition details

Each format that has its own ISBN needs that ISBN on its copyright page, so a paperback and an ebook have slightly different pages. ISBNs are issued by the national agency where the publisher is based, such as Bowker in the US, Nielsen in the UK and Thorpe-Bowker in Australia. If you use a free ISBN from a printing platform, the publisher shown in the ISBN record may be the platform’s default rather than your imprint, which is worth checking before you print your imprint name. Our guides on whether you need an ISBN and how to get one cover the choices.

A new edition with substantial changes usually needs a new ISBN and an updated edition line (“Second edition 2027”). A reprint with typo fixes does not normally need either.

Legal deposit: US, UK and Australia

Legal deposit is a separate obligation from copyright: national libraries collect a copy of published works for the national record.

Country	Who it applies to	What and when
Australia	Australian publishers and self-publishers, including those selling through Amazon or IngramSpark	One copy to the National Library of Australia within one month of publication. Where a book exists in print and electronic form, the library prefers the electronic version through National edeposit (NED), which can also cover most state and territory library requirements.
United Kingdom and Ireland	Publishers of items published in the UK or Ireland	A copy to the British Library within one month of publication. Five other legal deposit libraries can request a copy for up to a year after publication, usually through the Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries.
United States	Owners of published works	The US Copyright Office has separate mandatory deposit rules for published works. Check the Copyright Office’s guidance on deposit, which is distinct from optional registration.

If you are publishing from Australia, our guide on how to publish a book in Australia covers ISBNs and legal deposit in the wider publishing process.

Copyright page checklist

1. Copyright notice with ©, year of first publication and the correct rights-holder name.
2. “All rights reserved” and a permissions line with a review exception.
3. The right ISBN for this format, labelled with the format.
4. Publisher or imprint name that matches your ISBN record.
5. A disclaimer that suits the genre (fiction, general information or memoir).
6. Credits for the cover, illustrations, editing and any licensed images.
7. Permissions lines for any quoted material, worded as your permissions require.
8. Edition line, updated for substantial new editions.
9. Optional AI statement, consistent with what you told KDP or any other retailer.
10. No personal email address or home address; use a website instead.
11. Legal deposit diary note for one month after publication, if it applies to you.

Common mistakes

• Copying the paperback ISBN into the ebook. Each ISBN identifies one format.
• Wrong year. The notice uses the year of first publication, not the year you started writing.
• Naming a company that doesn’t own the rights. If the copyright page says a company owns the rights, the paperwork should agree.
• Using song lyrics or long quotations without permission. A credit line is not a substitute for permission where permission is needed.
• A one-size disclaimer. A fiction disclaimer in a health book, or a medical disclaimer in a romance, looks careless.
• Printing private contact details. Use a website or a publishing contact page instead.
• Assuming the copyright page registers your copyright. In the US, registration with the Copyright Office is a separate process.

Sources this guide draws on: US Copyright Office Circular 3 (Copyright Notice), Kindle Direct Publishing content guidelines, National Library of Australia legal deposit guidance, Cambridge University Library and British Library legal deposit information, and the Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries.

Frequently asked questions

What should a copyright page include?

At minimum, a copyright notice (©, year of first publication and owner’s name), an “all rights reserved” line and, if you have one, the ISBN for that format. Most self-published books also include the imprint name, a disclaimer, edition details and credits.

Where does the copyright page go in a book?

In print books it usually sits on the back (left-hand page) of the title page. In ebooks many authors move it to the back of the book so the free sample reaches the story faster. Picture books often put it at the back or on the final spread.

Can I copy another book’s copyright page?

The standard lines, such as “all rights reserved” and the usual fiction disclaimer, are common wording used by many publishers. Use the templates here as a starting point and change details so every line is accurate for your book.

Do I need to register my copyright before publishing?

Not to own it: in the US, UK and Australia copyright arises automatically. Australia and the UK have no general copyright registration system. The US offers optional registration with the Copyright Office, which has legal benefits there; a lawyer can advise whether it is worth it for your book.

Should I put “first edition” on my copyright page?

It is optional. “First edition” helps readers, collectors and libraries know which version they have, and it is easy to update if you later publish a substantially revised edition with a new ISBN.

Do I have to say I used AI on my copyright page?

KDP’s guidelines require you to tell KDP about AI-generated content during publishing, not to print a statement in the book. A copyright page statement is your choice, but if you include one, make sure it is accurate and matches what you have told your retailers.

Copy the template that fits your book, fill in every bracket accurately, and check it against the checklist before you upload each format. It takes a few minutes, and it gives readers, libraries and anyone seeking permission a clear, honest record of who made the book and who owns it.