ISBN and copyright registration, filed in your name
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What the service covers
- ISBNs bought from Bowker, the official U.S. ISBN agency, and registered to you or your imprint
- A separate ISBN for each format: paperback, hardcover, ebook, audiobook
- Title metadata entered in Bowker's Books in Print database
- Retail barcode for every print edition
- Copyright application prepared and filed with the U.S. Copyright Office
- Library of Congress Control Number application, when your timeline allows
- Ready-to-use copyright page text for your book's front matter
ISBN registration
An ISBN is a 13-digit identifier that retailers, distributors and libraries use to list and order your book. Without one, your book can't move through the trade.
You need one ISBN per format. Paperback, hardcover, ebook and audiobook each get their own. A 10-pack is usually cheaper per ISBN than buying one at a time, and leaves you ready for future editions.
Free KDP ISBN or your own?
| Detail | Free KDP ISBN | Your own ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher of record | Independently published | You or your imprint |
| Usable outside Amazon | No | Yes: IngramSpark, Barnes and Noble, libraries |
| Control over metadata | Limited | Full |
| Cost | Free | From $125 at Bowker |
Selling only on Amazon? A free ISBN can be enough. For bookstores, libraries or wide distribution, you need your own.
Copyright registration
Your book is already copyrighted. Copyright exists the moment your work is written down. Registration doesn't create it. Registration makes it enforceable.
Why register anyway
The right to sue
For U.S. works, registration is required before you can file an infringement lawsuit.
Statutory damages and legal fees
Register before infringement, or within three months of publication, and you can claim statutory damages and attorney's fees without proving lost income.
A dated public record
Your ownership is documented with a date, which strengthens your position in any dispute.
What we file
We choose the right application type for your work, prepare it, upload your deposit copy, and track the claim until the certificate arrives. Processing can take several months, but your registration's effective date is the day the Copyright Office receives a complete application.
Library of Congress Control Number
An LCCN helps libraries catalog your book. Self-published authors can apply through the Library of Congress PrePub Book Link program, but only before publication. If your timeline allows, we include it in the package.
How registration works
Consultation
We confirm your formats, distribution plans, and whether you want your own imprint.
Imprint setup
We help you choose an imprint name. It becomes the publisher name on every ISBN record.
ISBN purchase
ISBNs are bought in your name and assigned to each format.
Metadata entry
Title, author, description and format details go into Bowker's database.
Barcodes
Print-ready barcode files for each print edition.
Copyright filing
Application prepared, submitted, and tracked to certificate.
Handover
You get your Bowker account access, barcode files, filing confirmation and copyright page text.
Pricing
Our service fee plus government fees, passed through at cost with no markup.
| Package | Includes | Service fee |
|---|---|---|
| ISBN only | 1 ISBN, barcode, metadata | Custom quote |
| ISBN bundle | 10 ISBNs, barcodes, metadata | Custom quote |
| Copyright only | Application preparation and filing | Custom quote |
| Complete package | ISBNs, copyright filing and LCCN | Custom quote |
Publishing outside the U.S.
ISBN agencies are national. UK authors get ISBNs from Nielsen, and Canadian authors can get them free through Library and Archives Canada. The UK has no copyright registration system because protection is automatic. We'll tell you what applies in your country before you pay anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use one ISBN for my paperback and ebook?
No. Each format needs its own ISBN.
Does my ebook need an ISBN?
Not on Amazon KDP, which uses its own ASIN. Some other ebook retailers do require one.
Who owns the ISBN if you buy it for me?
You do. It's registered in your name or your imprint's name, and you get access to the Bowker account.
Can I register copyright after my book is published?
Yes. Registering within three months of publication keeps your right to statutory damages and attorney's fees for infringement that happens before the registration.
Do I need a lawyer to register copyright?
Not for a standard book registration. If ownership is disputed, the book has co-authors, or it was a work made for hire, talk to an attorney.
Is this legal advice?
No. We provide registration services, not legal counsel.
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