You can build a professional book copyright page in five minutes by copying one of the templates below and swapping in your own details.
In this guide, you’ll get:
- Copy-and-paste copyright page templates for fiction, nonfiction, and ebooks
- A breakdown of every element a copyright page needs (and which ones are optional)
- The exact copyright notice format the U.S. Copyright Office recognizes
- Common mistakes that make a copyright page look amateurish
Here’s everything you need to format your copyright page correctly.
What Is a Copyright Page?
A copyright page is the page in your book — usually on the back of the title page — that states who owns the book, when it was published, and who is allowed to copy it. It also holds your ISBN, edition information, publisher details, and any legal disclaimers.
You own your copyright automatically the moment you write your book. The copyright page doesn’t create that protection — it announces it, deters casual copying, and signals that your book was produced professionally.
Every traditionally published book has one. If you’re self-publishing, you need to create your own, and a template makes that simple.
Free Book Copyright Page Template (Copy and Paste)
Here’s a clean, all-purpose copyright page template that works for most self-published books. Copy it, then replace the bracketed text with your own information.
Copyright © [Year] by [Author Name]
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used
in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner
except for the use of quotations in a book review.
First edition [Year]
ISBN [Your ISBN] (paperback)
ISBN [Your ISBN] (ebook)
Published by [Publisher or Imprint Name]
[City, Country]
www.[yourwebsite].comThat’s the minimum a clean, professional copyright page needs. The sections below show how to adapt it for fiction, nonfiction, and ebooks — and which extra lines are worth adding.
What Every Copyright Page Should Include
A complete copyright page typically includes seven core elements. Not all are required, but including them makes your book look professionally produced.
| Element | Required? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Copyright notice | Recommended | Copyright © 2026 by Jane Doe |
| All rights reserved statement | Recommended | All rights reserved… |
| ISBN | Yes (for print/distribution) | ISBN 978-1-23456-789-0 |
| Edition information | Optional | First edition, 2026 |
| Publisher / imprint | Optional | Published by Lighthouse Press |
| Disclaimer | Situational | This is a work of fiction… |
| Credits | Optional | Cover design by… |
Below, each element is explained so you know exactly what to put where.
The Copyright Notice
The copyright notice is the single most important line on the page. The U.S. Copyright Office recognizes a specific three-part format:
Copyright © [Year of first publication] by [Name of copyright owner]
So a valid notice reads: Copyright © 2026 by Jane Doe. You can write it three equivalent ways — “Copyright,” the © symbol, or “Copr.” — but using both the word and the symbol (Copyright ©) is the clearest and most common choice.
Use the year your book is first published, not the year you wrote it. If you publish under a pen name or an imprint, the name on this line should match the copyright owner, which is usually you as the author.
The “All Rights Reserved” Statement
The “all rights reserved” line tells the world that no one may reproduce your book without permission. It’s not legally required in most countries today, but readers and retailers expect it, and it removes ambiguity.
A standard version reads:
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
If that feels too long for your taste, the shorter version in the main template above works just as well.
Your ISBN
Your ISBN (International Standard Book Number) identifies your book to retailers and libraries. Each format needs its own ISBN — your paperback, hardcover, and ebook each get a separate number.
List them clearly with the format in parentheses:
ISBN 978-1-23456-789-0 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-23456-788-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-23456-787-6 (ebook)Not sure whether you need one? Kindle ebooks don’t require an ISBN — Amazon assigns a free ASIN instead. See our guide on whether you need an ISBN for Kindle, and how to get a free ISBN if you’re publishing in print.
Edition Information
Edition information tells readers which version of the book they’re holding. For a first release, a simple line is enough:
First edition 2026If you later revise the book, you’d note “Second edition” with the new year. Some publishers also add a printer’s key (a row of numbers like 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1) that tracks which print run a copy came from. It’s optional for self-publishers and you can safely skip it.
Publisher or Imprint Name
If you’ve set up a publishing imprint, this is where its name goes. An imprint name makes your book look like it came from a press rather than a personal account — a small detail that adds polish.
Published by Lighthouse Press
Portland, OregonIf you don’t have an imprint, you can list your own name and city, or simply leave this line off. It’s optional.
Copyright Page Template for Fiction
Fiction books almost always include a disclaimer stating the story is invented. This protects you if a reader thinks a character resembles a real person. Here’s a complete fiction copyright page template:
Copyright © 2026 by [Author Name]
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
form without written permission from the author, except for brief
quotations used in reviews.
This 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.
First edition 2026
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X (ebook)
Cover design by [Designer Name]
Published by [Imprint Name]
www.[yourwebsite].comThe fiction disclaimer is the key addition here. If your novel features real public figures or real locations in a recognizable way, consider a custom disclaimer — our guide on how to write a disclaimer for a book covers the variations.
Copyright Page Template for Nonfiction
Nonfiction copyright pages often add a liability disclaimer, especially for books offering health, legal, financial, or how-to advice. This signals that the content is for information only. Here’s a nonfiction template:
Copyright © 2026 by [Author Name]
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the
prior written permission of the author, except for brief quotations
in a book review.
Disclaimer: The information in this book is provided for general
informational purposes only. The author and publisher are not
offering professional advice and are not liable for any losses or
damages arising from the use of this material. Readers should
consult a qualified professional before acting on any information
contained herein.
First edition 2026
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X (ebook)
Published by [Imprint Name]
[City, Country]
For permissions and bulk orders, contact: [email]The liability disclaimer is what sets the nonfiction page apart. If your book gives advice readers might act on, include it. A contact line for permissions and bulk orders is also a nice professional touch for nonfiction authors who expect business or institutional readers.
Copyright Page Template for Ebooks
Ebook copyright pages are nearly identical to print ones, with two small differences: you often add a line discouraging unauthorized sharing, and you list only the ebook ISBN (or none, if you’re publishing exclusively on Kindle). Here’s an ebook template:
Copyright © 2026 by [Author Name]
All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal
enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people.
If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional
copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
This is a work of fiction. [Include only for novels.]
ISBN 978-1-XXXXX-XXX-X (ebook)
First edition 2026
Published by [Imprint Name]
www.[yourwebsite].comThe licensing line — “licensed for your personal enjoyment only” — is the ebook-specific addition. It gently discourages the file-sharing that ebooks are prone to. For more on ebook front matter, see our ebook formatting guide.
Where Does the Copyright Page Go?
The copyright page goes on the verso (left-hand) page immediately following the title page, near the front of your book. In standard front matter order, it sits between the title page and the dedication.
The typical front matter sequence looks like this:
- Half-title page (optional)
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Table of contents
- Acknowledgments or foreword
Placing it correctly matters for print books, where left/right page positioning affects layout. Most book formatting software handles this placement automatically once you mark the page as front matter.
How to Format the Copyright Page
Format the copyright page in a small font (usually 8–10 point), left-aligned, on the back of the title page. It should look quiet and understated — readers rarely read it closely, so it shouldn’t compete with your title or chapter openings.
Keep these formatting conventions in mind:
- Use a smaller point size than your body text
- Single-space the lines, with a blank line between sections
- Left-align the text (centered is acceptable but less common)
- Don’t add a page number to this page
- Match the font family to the rest of your book
If you’re building your interior in a tool like Atticus, Vellum, or Word, the copyright page lives in your front matter section. Our complete book formatting guide walks through the full interior layout.
Common Copyright Page Mistakes to Avoid
Even a simple page can go wrong. Watch out for these frequent errors:
- Using the wrong year — the notice should show the year of first publication, not the year you started writing.
- Mismatched ISBNs — every format needs its own ISBN; never reuse a paperback ISBN for the ebook.
- Forgetting the fiction disclaimer — novels that reference real people or places need one to limit liability.
- Copying a competitor’s page verbatim — including their imprint, designer credits, or boilerplate that doesn’t apply to you.
- Listing the wrong copyright owner — if you write under a pen name, the legal owner is still you; see pen name vs. real name for how to handle the name on this line.
- Making the page too prominent — keep the font small and the tone neutral.
Do You Legally Need a Copyright Page?
No, you are not legally required to include a copyright page to own your copyright. In the U.S. and most countries, copyright protection is automatic the moment your work is fixed in a tangible form — the page simply announces and reinforces that existing right.
That said, every professional book has one, and retailers like Amazon KDP expect it. Skipping it makes a book look self-produced in the worst sense. The five minutes it takes to add one is always worth it.
If you want the strongest legal protection — the ability to sue for statutory damages — you’ll also want to formally register your copyright. That’s a separate step from the copyright page; learn how in our book copyright registration guide and the broader walkthrough on how to copyright a book.
How to Add a Copyright Page Without Doing It by Hand
If formatting front matter, ISBNs, and disclaimers feels like a chore, AI writing and publishing tools can build a clean copyright page and full book interior for you.
Our Pick — Chapter
Chapter is an AI book writing platform that helps you draft, structure, and format a complete book — including front matter like your title and copyright pages — without wrestling with templates manually. You write the book; it handles the structure around it.
Best for: Authors who want to write and produce a publication-ready book without learning formatting software from scratch. Pricing: $97 one-time (nonfiction) | Varies (fiction) Why we built it: Over 2,147 authors have used Chapter to create 5,000+ books, and we kept hearing that the production details — copyright pages, structure, formatting — were where new authors got stuck. So we built the scaffolding in.
Chapter won’t replace a copyright attorney for complex rights situations, and you’ll still want to register your copyright separately for legal protection. But for getting a clean, professional book interior assembled fast, it removes most of the friction.
How Long Does It Take to Make a Copyright Page?
Making a copyright page takes about five minutes once you have a template. You copy the template, replace the bracketed fields — your name, the year, your ISBN, and your imprint — and add a disclaimer if your book needs one.
The only step that can take longer is getting your ISBN, which can take a few days if you’re buying one from Bowker or requesting a free one from your distributor.
Can I Use the Same Copyright Page for Print and Ebook?
You can use nearly the same copyright page for print and ebook, with two adjustments. First, list only the ebook ISBN (or none) in the ebook version. Second, add the ebook licensing line that discourages unauthorized sharing.
Everything else — the copyright notice, the all-rights-reserved statement, edition info, and any disclaimer — stays identical across both formats.
FAQ
What should a book copyright page say?
A book copyright page should say who owns the copyright, the year of publication, an “all rights reserved” statement, and your ISBN. Fiction adds a fictional disclaimer, while nonfiction often adds a liability disclaimer. Publisher, edition, and credit lines are optional but professional.
Is a copyright page legally required?
A copyright page is not legally required, because copyright protection is automatic the moment you create your work. However, every professional book includes one, and retailers expect it. The page deters copying and signals that your book was produced professionally, so you should always add one.
What year goes on a copyright page?
The year on a copyright page is the year of first publication — when your book first becomes available to the public — not the year you wrote it. If you release a revised edition later, you note the new edition with its own publication year on the copyright page.
Can I copy a copyright page template?
Yes, you can copy a copyright page template because the boilerplate language (the copyright notice and “all rights reserved” wording) is standard and not protected. Just replace all the placeholder details — name, year, ISBN, and publisher — with your own information, and add the disclaimer your book needs.
Where is the copyright page in a book?
The copyright page is on the back of the title page, near the front of the book. In standard front matter order it appears after the title page and before the dedication. In print books it sits on a left-hand (verso) page, set in a small, understated font.
Do I need a copyright page for a Kindle ebook?
You should include a copyright page for a Kindle ebook, even though Amazon doesn’t strictly require one. Kindle books don’t need an ISBN — Amazon assigns a free ASIN — but a copyright page with your notice and an ebook licensing line still makes your book look professional and discourages unauthorized sharing.
