Knowing how to write a book copyright page is one of those small tasks that trips up a surprising number of KDP authors — not because it's complicated, but because there's a lot of conflicting advice floating around. This guide cuts through that. Below you'll find exactly what belongs on a KDP copyright page, the formats Amazon actually accepts, platform-specific ISBN rules, and ready-to-use templates for fiction and nonfiction.
Is a Copyright Page Legally Required?
No — a copyright page is not legally required for protection in the United States. Copyright protection begins the moment you start writing. The work is yours whether or not a copyright page exists inside the book.
That said, skipping the copyright page is still a bad idea. Amazon's automated quality checks scan copyright information, and errors — or a missing page — can trigger approval delays, loss of distribution privileges, or erroneous royalty withholding. A properly formatted copyright page also signals professionalism to readers and retailers.
One more thing worth knowing: Amazon KDP is a platform that facilitates the publishing process. It does not hold the copyright to books published on its platform. That copyright belongs to you.
Where Does the Copyright Page Go?
The copyright page should appear right after the title page and before the table of contents. This placement is standard across traditionally published and self-published books, and it's what readers, librarians, and retailers expect to find.
In a print book, this lands on the verso (reverse) side of the title page — typically page ii. In an ebook, the structure is the same even though physical page numbers work differently. Don't bury the copyright page in the back matter or skip it in your ebook just because it's digital.
Required and Recommended Elements
A copyright notice needs three core components:
- The copyright symbol (©) and/or the word "Copyright"
- The copyright holder's name
- The year of publication
Beyond those three, there are several elements you'll want to include depending on your book type and distribution plans:
- All rights reserved statement — strongly recommended, required for KDP Select/KU
- ISBN(s) — required for print distribution to libraries and bookstores; optional for Kindle
- Edition statement — e.g., "First Edition, 2025"
- Publisher name — your imprint or company name if you have one
- Fiction or nonfiction disclaimer — depending on your genre
- Printer's key / number line — used in print runs to indicate edition
- P-CIP data — optional, used for library cataloging
Use the year of publication in your copyright notice — not the year you wrote or created the book.
Copyright Notice Formats and Examples
All three of the following formats are accepted and correct:
- Copyright © Anthony Hall, 2025
- Copyright © 2025 Anthony Hall
- Copyright © 2025 by Anthony Hall
If you write under a pen name, you can use that pseudonym as the copyright holder's name — you're not required to use your legal name on the copyright page.
One important note on copyright ownership: the copyright should be under the name of the author, not the publisher — even when the author has set up their own publishing company. If you've created an imprint, self-publishers are advised to name their publishing company, get the ISBN under that company name, and set up their KDP account using the company name — but the copyright notice itself should still list the author.
For your "All rights reserved" statement, the extended version reads:
"All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review."
A shorter alternative used in many books: "The moral rights of the author have been asserted."
ISBN Requirements by Platform
ISBN rules vary by platform and format, so here's a quick breakdown:
- Amazon Kindle eBooks — no ISBN required
- Apple Books (EPUB) — ISBN is optional
- Barnes & Noble Press — requires an ISBN, or one is provided through their platform
- Print books distributed to libraries and bookstores — an ISBN is required
An ISBN is a 13-digit number, and a different ISBN is required for each format — paperback, hardcover, and ebook each need their own. If your book is available in multiple formats, you can list all ISBNs on a single copyright page. That's standard practice and keeps the cataloging information in one place for anyone who needs it.
Fiction vs. Nonfiction Disclaimers
Disclaimers protect you legally and set reader expectations. The type you need depends on your genre.
Fiction disclaimer (standard):
"This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously."
Nonfiction disclaimer: For nonfiction, the disclaimer typically clarifies that the content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice (legal, medical, financial, etc.). The exact wording varies by topic — tailor it to whatever professional domain your book covers.
If your nonfiction book includes any real people, real companies, or real events where your portrayal might be disputed, consider having an attorney review your disclaimer before publishing.
KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited: One Compliance Note
If you're enrolled in KDP Select or Kindle Unlimited, this one matters: your copyright page must explicitly state "All rights reserved" to satisfy exclusivity compliance. This isn't just a recommendation — it's a requirement tied to your enrollment agreement. If your copyright page uses a Creative Commons license or omits the rights statement, you may run into compliance issues. Stick with the standard language and you'll be fine. For more on how KDP royalties and program choices affect your bottom line, the KDP Royalty Calculator is a useful reference.
Copyright Page Templates
Basic Template (Ebook or Minimalist Print)
Many indie ebooks include just a handful of elements — a copyright notice, the author or publisher name, and sometimes an ISBN or edition statement. Here's a clean starting point:
Copyright © 2025 [Author Name]
All rights reserved.
First Edition
ISBN: [your ISBN, if applicable]
Fiction Template
Copyright © 2025 by [Author Name]
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
First Edition, 2025
Published by [Publisher/Imprint Name]
ISBN (Paperback): [000-0-000-00000-0]
ISBN (Hardcover): [000-0-000-00000-0]
ISBN (Kindle): [000-0-000-00000-0]
Nonfiction Template
Copyright © 2025 by [Author Name]
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
The information in this book is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute [legal / medical / financial] advice. Consult a qualified professional before acting on any information contained herein.
First Edition, 2025
Published by [Publisher/Imprint Name]
ISBN (Paperback): [000-0-000-00000-0]
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the year you wrote the book instead of the publication year. The copyright notice should reflect when the book was published.
- Putting the copyright under your publisher name instead of your author name. Even if you have an imprint, the copyright belongs to you as the author.
- Omitting "All rights reserved" when enrolled in KDP Select/KU. This can create compliance problems.
- Assuming one ISBN covers all formats. Each format — paperback, hardcover, ebook — requires its own 13-digit ISBN.
- Formatting errors in ebooks. For ebooks, text alignment is usually handled automatically by the reading device or formatting software, so don't over-engineer it. For print, use a slightly smaller font for copyright text to keep the page clean, and center the text per industry standard.
Tools That Can Help
If you'd rather not build your copyright page from scratch, Reedsy Studio (a book formatting tool) auto-generates copyright pages as part of its formatting workflow. A copyright page can typically be created in around five minutes once you know what elements you need — which you now do.
If you're still in the research phase — figuring out whether your book idea has a market before you get to formatting — the KDP niche pages and KDP how-to guides on Pubscout are worth a look. And once your book is live, the BSR Sales Calculator can help you interpret your sales rank in real terms.
The Pubscout Chrome Extension also lets you see live BSR, estimated monthly sales, and niche data directly on any Amazon book page — handy for keeping an eye on how your title is performing or scoping out the competition in your category.
Getting your copyright page right takes maybe five minutes. The templates above give you everything you need — copy, adapt, and move on to the work that actually fills your book.