The copyright page is the small block of text on the back of your title page, and almost every writer has the same two questions about it: what has to be on it, and do I need to register my copyright for it to mean anything? This guide answers both, lists the standard elements, explains the fiction disclaimer, gives wording you can adapt, covers ISBNs and edition lines, and notes the extra credits a book might need. One important caveat: this is general information about common practice, not legal advice. If you have a specific legal question, ask a qualified lawyer in your country. The last section shows how Quillen starts the page for you.
The short answer
A copyright page normally has a copyright notice ("Copyright © 2026 Ada Marlow"), an "All rights reserved" line, a rights statement saying the book may not be reproduced without permission, a disclaimer if it is fiction, and an edition line. Add an ISBN and a publisher line if you have them, and credits for the cover, map or editor if they are not yours. You do not need to register your copyright for it to exist, but registration brings extra legal benefits in some countries. In Quillen, the Copyright page starts from a standard fiction or nonfiction text that you can edit.
Do I need a copyright page?
In most countries, copyright in a work arises automatically when you write it, so the page is not legally required. But it is standard practice, retailers and readers expect it, it states your rights clearly, and the lack of one makes a book look unprofessional. Platforms such as KDP do not require specific wording, though you are responsible for your own content and rights.
What goes on it
| Element | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copyright notice | Copyright © 2026 Ada Marlow | The symbol, the year of first publication, and the owner's name |
| Rights statement | All rights reserved. | Short and conventional |
| Reproduction notice | No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form... | Standard wording about permission, with an exception for brief quotations in reviews |
| Fiction disclaimer | This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination... | Fiction only |
| Edition line | First edition: 2026 | Update for later editions |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-0-00-000000-0 | If you have one; separate ISBNs for print and ebook |
| Publisher | Published by Lantern Press | Optional for self-publishers |
| Credits | Cover design by...; Map by...; Edited by... | Where relevant, and where required by a licence |
The fiction disclaimer
Novelists traditionally include a statement that the story is invented and that resemblance to real people is coincidental. It is not a magic shield, since a thinly disguised portrait of a real person can still cause trouble, but it is standard and signals your intent. If your novel uses real places or real historical events, you can adapt the wording to say so ("Some places and events are real; the characters are not").
Nonfiction books use a different notice. Common additions include a disclaimer that the information is for general purposes and not professional advice, and a note about names changed in a memoir to protect privacy. A health, legal or financial book often warrants more careful wording, and a lawyer's input.
Registration and the © symbol
Copyright exists without registration or the symbol in most countries, because of international treaties. The © symbol is a convention. Some countries, notably the United States, offer a registration system that gives extra benefits, for example the right to sue for statutory damages in certain cases. Whether to register is a decision to make with the official guidance for your country, or with advice. It has no effect on what goes on the page.
ISBNs
An ISBN is a number that identifies a particular edition of a book. Print and ebook editions each need their own. Many retailers will assign a free identifier if you do not have one, though the ISBN then belongs to the platform, which can limit where you publish. If you buy your own, the number and the publisher name come from your country's ISBN agency. Put the ISBN on the copyright page, and on the back cover as a barcode if you are printing.
Credits and licences
If someone else made a part of your book, say so where it is courteous or required. A cover artist, a map maker, an editor and a translator often get credited here. Stock images and fonts have licences, and some require attribution; check them. If you quote another author's work, a song lyric or a poem, you may need written permission, and the permission may specify the credit line.
A worked example
A finished copyright page for The Salt Road might read:
Copyright © 2026 Ada Marlow
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief quotations in a review.
Cover design by A. Designer
First edition: 2026
ISBN 978-0-00-000000-0 (paperback)
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong year | Dates the book incorrectly | Use the year of first publication |
| Copying another book's page word for word | May state things that are not true for you | Adapt standard wording |
| No ISBN for each edition | Editions confused | One per format, if you have them |
| Using a fiction disclaimer in nonfiction | Wrong signal | Use the nonfiction notice |
| Forgetting credits | Breaks a licence or is discourteous | Credit cover, maps, editors where relevant |
| Treating a template as legal advice | May not fit your situation | Ask a lawyer for anything specific |
Do it in Quillen
Quillen includes a Copyright page in the Print, eBook & Kindle export, with separate default wording for fiction and nonfiction.
- Open the export. Click Export in the header, then Print, eBook & Kindle.
- Tick Copyright in the Front matter list. The Page properties panel opens, with a note that it starts from a standard fiction (or nonfiction) copyright page, and a text box you can edit freely.
- Read the default text. For fiction it contains the copyright notice with the current year and your author name, "All rights reserved", the fiction disclaimer, the reproduction notice and a first edition line.
- Edit it. Add your ISBN, publisher and credits, change the year if needed, and adjust the wording to suit your book.
- Reset if you wish. The Reset to default button restores the standard text.
- Check the preview and export. The page sits after the title page and before the other front matter.
The default text is a starting point for common cases, not a legal opinion. If your book has special needs, such as a memoir naming real people or a book of advice, get professional guidance.
Checklist
- Copyright notice with © , the year and the owner's name.
- Rights and reproduction statements.
- Fiction disclaimer for fiction, an appropriate notice for nonfiction.
- Edition line, and an ISBN for each edition you have.
- Credits and permissions included where needed.
- Anything with legal weight checked with a qualified professional.
Common questions
What goes on a copyright page?
A copyright notice with the © symbol, year and owner's name, an 'All rights reserved' line, a reproduction notice, a disclaimer for fiction, an edition line, and an ISBN and credits where they apply.
Do I have to register my copyright?
In most countries copyright exists automatically. Some countries offer registration with extra legal benefits. Check your country's official guidance, or ask a lawyer.
Is the fiction disclaimer necessary?
It is conventional rather than required. It signals that the story is invented, though it does not protect a thinly disguised portrait of a real person.
Does Quillen write my copyright page?
Quillen starts the Copyright page from a standard fiction or nonfiction text, with your name and the year, which you can edit or reset. It is not legal advice.
Do I need an ISBN?
Print and ebook editions each need an identifier, but many retailers will assign a free one. A purchased ISBN gives you more control over where you publish.