Copyright Page

There have been times where I’ve received a book to format and the author hasn’t included a copyright page. I always add in a very minimal one at that point, but it makes me wonder how many other authors just don’t include one.

Elements of a copyright page for U.S. authors

There are only two elements that are required for a copyright page.

The copyright statement.
Copyright © 2015 by (Author Name)
All rights reserved. Which it can be as simple as just that statement. However there is additional information that can be added like the example below.

Additional elements that you should include on the copyright page:

Give credit where credit is due. If someone designed your book cover, if you hired someone to format your book, or if you hired an editor, make sure to include them on the copyright page.
ISBN: If you purchased an ISBN then you’ll want to include it on your copyright page.

And even more elements that you can include, but aren’t necessary

Disclaimer: Joel Friedlander has some good examples on his website of different disclaimers (6 copyright page disclaimers to copy and paste).
Publishers Address and Contact Info: If you have a publisher. Don’t add your personal address and contact info if you are self-publishing.
Colophon: You can include information about the printing methods and typography used.

Copyright Page Example:
The Book Title
Copyright © 2015 by Jane Smith

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.

ISBN 13: 978-1-2345678-9-0
ISBN 10: 1-234578-9-0

Book Cover Design by _____
Interior Formatting by ______
Editing by ____

U.S. Copyright Law

If you would like to read a thorough overview of the U.S. copyright law, you can read this Copyright Basics Circular or read the entire law yourself.

Registering your book with the U.S. Copyright Office is optional. According to the law, a work is considered copyrighted at the moment of its creation, which includes each version. However, registering your copyright does give you added protection if you should have to take someone to court. For more information on registering your book, visit the U.S. Copyright Office’s website.

Outside the U.S.

If you live outside of the U.S., please make sure you look into your county’s copyright laws. If anyone has helpful links pertaining to copyright laws for other counties, feel free to share them in the comments and I will update this post to reflect that information.

Additional information about the copyright page can be found here:
Joel Friedlander – Copyright Page Samples