Front matter
What goes on a book copyright page?
The copyright notice, rights statement, disclaimers and ISBN, line by line — with examples for self-published books.
6 min read · Updated 9 July 2026
The copyright page is the least glamorous page in a book and one of the easiest to get slightly wrong. It sits on the reverse of the title page and packs a lot into a small space: the copyright notice, a rights statement, disclaimers, edition and printing details, the ISBN and often the publisher. This guide walks through what goes on a book copyright page line by line, with examples, so you can build one that looks professional.
If you would rather not assemble it by hand, the copyright page generator below builds a ready-to-paste page from your details. Read on for what each line means and why it is there.
Copyright Page Generator
The Lighthouse at Dusk
First Edition
Copyright © 2026 A. N. Author
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 the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The moral right of A. N. Author to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Published by Indie Press
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Note ⊕A standard copyright page for a self-published book. The wording is a solid default, not legal advice — your copyright exists automatically whether or not you register it.
Want the full tool? Open the Copyright Page Generator.
The copyright notice
The heart of the page is the copyright notice: the © symbol, the year of first publication and the name of the rights holder, usually written as "Copyright © 2026 Your Name". You hold copyright automatically from the moment you write the work, so this line states an existing fact rather than creating a right. The name is normally the author's, unless the rights have been assigned to a company or imprint.
You do not need to register anything for this to be true — in the UK there is no copyright register at all. The notice simply makes ownership explicit to anyone who opens the book, which is why every professional edition carries one.
The rights statement
Beneath the notice comes the rights statement. The standard wording, "All rights reserved", followed by a sentence forbidding reproduction without permission, tells readers they may not copy or distribute the book beyond fair dealing. It is the default for commercial books and the safest choice for most authors.
If you want your book shared more freely, a Creative Commons licence is the alternative — you keep copyright but grant specific permissions in advance. The generator offers both, so you can pick the stance that suits your book.
Disclaimers: fiction and non-fiction
Novels carry a fiction disclaimer — the familiar line that names, characters and events are products of the imagination and any resemblance to real people is coincidental. It is not legally magic, but it signals intent and offers a measure of protection, so it is standard in fiction.
Non-fiction books often carry a different disclaimer, limiting liability for how readers use the information. Which one you need depends on your book; the generator lets you choose fiction, non-fiction or none.
ISBN, edition and the number line
Most copyright pages list the ISBN — and each format needs its own, so a paperback, hardback and ebook of the same title carry three different numbers. You can create the matching barcode for print with our ISBN barcode generator. An edition line ("First Edition") and the publisher or imprint name usually appear here too.
You may also see a printer's number line, such as 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, where the lowest number shows the printing. It is a traditional touch that is optional for self-published and print-on-demand books, which is why the generator lets you include or omit it.
Where it goes, and self-publishing specifics
The copyright page belongs on the verso — the reverse — of the title page, near the front of the book, before the dedication and contents. Where the rest of the opening pages sit — foreword, preface and introduction — has its own conventions. It is part of the interior file you supply to your printer, so it is worth getting right before you run the file through the print-ready PDF checker.
Self-published and Amazon KDP books need a copyright page exactly as traditionally published ones do. In the UK you can also assert your moral right to be identified as the author, a short line the generator can add for you. None of it requires registration — it is simply the mark of a properly finished book.
Common questions
- Where does the copyright page go in a book?
- On the verso — the reverse — of the title page, so it is among the first pages a reader sees. It comes after the half-title and title page and before the dedication and table of contents.
- How do I write the copyright symbol?
- The © symbol can be typed as Alt+0169 on Windows, Option+G on a Mac, or by writing (c), which many programs auto-correct. On a copyright page it is followed by the year of first publication and the name of the rights holder.
- Can I copy a copyright page from another book?
- You can use another book's copyright page as a structural guide — the standard clauses like the fiction disclaimer are not themselves protectable — but you must replace every detail with your own. The generator on this page is a faster, safer way to get the same result.
- What does 'All rights reserved' mean?
- It states that the copyright owner keeps all the exclusive rights the law grants — copying, distributing, adapting and so on — and that others need permission to use the work beyond fair dealing or fair use. It is the default for most commercial books, though Creative Commons licences are an alternative.
- Do self-published and KDP books need a copyright page?
- Yes. A self-published book, including one printed through Amazon KDP, needs a copyright page just as a traditionally published book does. It is part of the front matter in your interior file, and it is part of what makes the finished book look properly produced.
Plan your book with the free tools
Run the numbers, prepare your files and compare your options — then print with real UK book printers.