ISBN and Copyright Guide for Authors: What You Actually Need to Know
By Abdul Moeed
Nova Publishers includes ISBN setup in every package. Each print format needs its own ISBN, and your copyright exists the moment you write the book; registering it at copyright.gov adds legal protection in the US. By default Nova registers your book under Nova's ISBN and the copyright page reads "Published by Nova Publishers". If you buy your own ISBN, we use it and the credit reads "Production by Nova Publishers". Here is what you need to know about both.
What an ISBN actually is
The ISBN is the 13 digit number on the back of every retail book, encoded into the barcode. It identifies one specific edition of one specific book. Hardcover, paperback, large print, and ebook editions of the same title each get their own ISBN. Audiobooks on Audible use an ASIN, Amazon's own identifier, instead. When a retailer or library orders a book through wholesale catalogs, the ISBN is the lookup key.
ISBNs are issued by national agencies. In the United States, that agency is Bowker. Canada uses Library and Archives Canada (which issues ISBNs for free). The UK uses Nielsen (paid). Different countries have different rules; the rules below apply to authors publishing under a US imprint.
Nova's ISBN, your own ISBN, or KDP's
The ISBN decides who is listed as the publisher. The ISBN KDP assigns can only be used on Amazon, and the listing reads "Independently published". When you publish with Nova Publishers, your book uses Nova's ISBN by default and lists Nova Publishers as the publisher, while the book, the rights and the retailer accounts stay yours. If you'd rather be the publisher of record, buy your own ISBN and we'll use it.
Readers rarely notice who issued the ISBN. Owning your ISBNs makes sense if you plan to publish several books under your own imprint, or want the same identifier on every platform.
Bowker pricing: $125 for a single ISBN, $295 for a 10-pack. The 10-pack works out to under $30 per ISBN. If you plan to publish more than three editions across formats, the 10 pack is the obvious choice. If this is one book and you want simplicity, a publisher's ISBN, like Nova's, works.
What an ISBN does not do
An ISBN does not register copyright. An ISBN does not protect intellectual property. An ISBN does not establish you as the legal owner of the book. The ISBN is just an identifier for retail catalog purposes. Authors sometimes confuse the ISBN with copyright protection, which leads to genuinely vulnerable legal positions.
Copyright basics for authors
Copyright is automatic. The moment you write the manuscript in fixed form, you own the copyright. No registration is required for the copyright to exist. However, registering your copyright with the United States Copyright Office (or your country's equivalent) gives you specific legal advantages that matter if anyone ever infringes.
Why registration matters
Three specific legal advantages from registration. First, you can sue for infringement in federal court (unregistered works require registration before filing suit). Second, you become eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in infringement cases (without registration, you can only recover actual damages, which often do not justify the cost of a lawsuit). Third, registration provides public record evidence of ownership, which is valuable in any rights dispute.
For most indie authors, registration is cheap insurance. The US Copyright Office charges $45 to $65 to register a single work online. Processing can take several months, but registration is effective from the date the Office receives your application. File once per book, ideally before publication.
How to register copyright
Online through eCO at copyright.gov. Create an account. Select "Register a Work." Choose "Single Application" if this is one work by one author and one owner. Upload the manuscript file (PDF or Word). Pay the fee. Wait for the certificate.
The two non obvious mistakes: register the final published version (not an early draft) and register before publication if possible (timely registration provides additional remedies). If you have already published, register now anyway. Late registration is better than no registration.
The Library of Congress Catalog Number (LCCN)
An LCCN is a separate identifier issued by the US Library of Congress, used by libraries to catalog books. It is free and optional. Most indie authors skip it. If you want library distribution and you want the cleanest catalog presence, get one through the Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program at the Library of Congress website. The application takes 10 to 15 minutes and the LCCN arrives within 1 to 2 weeks.
The copyright page in your book
The copyright page sits inside the book, usually facing the title page or just after it. It typically includes the copyright notice ("Copyright © 2026 Author Name. All rights reserved."), the ISBN, the LCCN if you have one, the publisher information, the printer information for print editions, and a permissions notice. A standard template covers most cases.
Common indie author mistakes
First, confusing ISBN with copyright. They are completely separate legal instruments. Second, registering copyright on an early draft and never re registering the final published version. Third, leaving the copyright page blank or with a placeholder, which signals amateur production immediately to library and bookstore buyers. Fourth, buying a single ISBN from an unofficial reseller. Buy directly from Bowker, or use your publisher's ISBN with a clear credit line, so you know whose name is on the record.
Nova Publishers sets up the ISBN and the copyright page as part of every package. Copyright registration itself is quick enough that most authors file it themselves. See package details.