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what goes on the copyright page?

One of the most important, and often most overlooked pages in your book is usually one that is written at the last moment just before the pages go to the printer - the copyright page.

There are several pieces of information that you can include on this page, some essential and some optional, that help the not only the reader but libraries and government agencies understand when the book was published, who worked on it, and sometimes even how to purchase additional copies.

The Essentials

The following are the basics that should go on your copyright page. These allow your book to be catalogued, give credit where it's due, and protect you from having your work copied.

Copyright Date
The copyright date is the year in which the book is printed. For example, if you are designing and doing layout on your book in 2005, but it will not be printed until January of 2006, the copyright date is 2006. The copyright date is important as it protects you as an author from anyone reproducing your material - whether in print or other medium. The copyright date usually looks like this:

Copyright © 2005 Author Name.

Rights
Usually appears right below the copyright date. This information tells the buyer exactly what the limitations are regarding reproduction of your book. For instance, if you have written a handbook with forms in it that should be used in a team setting, you may want to allow for these to be reproduced within a classroom. The tradition rights do not allow for any copying or distribution of the materials:

All Rights Reserved.
It is illegal to reproduce any portion
of this material except by special
arrangement by the publisher (or author).
Reproduction of this material without
authorization, by any duplication process
whatsoever, is a violation of copyright.

ISBN
If you have catalogued your book with the US ISBN Agency (US) or Library and Archives Canada (Canadian) you will be given a piece of text to insert on the copyright page which contains your ISBN (see below). If you choose not to catalogue your book, you must still include your ISBN on the page. The format is as follows:

ISBN X-1234567-8-9

Starting in 2007, the ISBN will be changing to a 13-digit format with the addition of of a "978" prefix, and will have the following format:

ISBN 978-X-1234567-8-9

Publisher Information
Even if you are self-publishing, it can be important to include the publisher information on the copyright page. It allows the buyer to contact you with bulk buying requests, error reports, and other comments regarding the book. The publisher information is traditionally an address block with website, phone, and email (optional).

Credit
The copyright page is the appropriate place to give credit to those who helped you get your book published. This includes the editor, designer, photographer, copyeditor, reviewer, proofreader, indexer, and any other person involved in the production of the book. You also give credit to any purchased photography or illustrations used on the cover on in the pages.

Optional Information

The following are optional and many authors have used them on their copyright pages for different reasons.

Cataloguing Data (CIP)
In Canada, cataloguing your book is a voluntary program. As a writer, when you publish a manuscript, it is automatically copyrighted. Many authors do not catalogue their books. There are advantages to cataloguing, however, as the information about your book is distributed to bookseller and libraries across the country. This service is free of charge. CIP data must be entered on the copyright page as it is given to you.

Apply online for Canadian cataloguing with Library and Archives Canada.
Apply online for US cataloguing with the Library of Congress.

Disclaimer
If you are providing expertise in your book, you may want to include a disclaimer on your copyright page to ensure that noone will take your advice and sue you if they do not get the results they expected. An example of a disclaimer follows:

Every effort has been made to make this book
as complete and accurate as possible, but no
warranty or fitness is implied. The
information is provided on an "as is" basis.
The authors and the publisher shall have
neither liability nor responsibility to any
person or entity with respect to any loss or
damages arising from the information contained
in this book.

Ordering Information
If you will be selling your book other than through a bookstore (online or retail), such as at trade shows and through your own website, it may be hard for people to find copies of your book. Some authors add ordering information to their copyright page so that other people that have seen the book and want to buy it can contact them directly:

Book Title can be purchased for business or
promotional purposes. For more information,
please contact:
Company Name
Address
Phone Number
URL
Or send an email to email@email.com

Printer
Some authors and publishers choose to disclose where the book was printed - Canada, US, overseas - as well as the name of the printer. This is not mandatory and can be an advantage or disadvantage. A book for the Canadian market, printed in Canada can have an edge to some distributors and buyers as it is fully "Canadian Content". As well, other authors may like how a book was printed and may find the printer information useful:

Printed and bound in Canada by Printer Name.

How much information should you put on your copyright page? If you are publishing with a large publisher, they will most likely provide the copyright page information for you. If you are self-publishing, this will be your choice, depending on what goals you have for your book. As long as you have the essentials, you will be covered in case of intellectual property theft and your book will be catalogued properly in bookstores.

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