{"id":2108,"date":"2022-11-24T19:13:37","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T19:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/?p=2108"},"modified":"2026-03-27T17:57:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:57:22","slug":"ebook-copyright","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/ebook-copyright\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Copyright Your eBook (+ Example Copyright Pages)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine spending months researching, writing, and <a href=\"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/marketing-an-ebook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marketing an eBook<\/a>, only to have another author steal your work and attribute it to themselves. An upsetting thought, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to copyright your eBook; in the unfortunate event that somebody does try to pass your work off as their own, you\u2019ve got some legal protection.<\/p>\n<p>One of the easiest, yet most effective, ways to protect your eBook is to include a copyright page. In this article, we will focus on everything you need to know about copyright pages for eBooks, and how they can protect your work.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a quick list of topics that we&#8217;ll cover:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#1\">What is a copyright page?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2\">Do eBooks need a copyright page?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3\">Where to place an eBook copyright page<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4\">What to include in your eBook copyright page<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#5\">Tips when dealing with other people&#8217;s copyrights<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#6\">Do I need to register my eBook to copyright it?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7\">EXAMPLES: Copyright page free examples<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Copyright_Page\"><\/span>What is a Copyright Page?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever opened a physical book, chances are you\u2019ve seen a copyright page near the start, but flicked straight past it to get to the contents page or the first chapter.<\/p>\n<p>A copyright page is the part of a book that lets people know that the work isn\u2019t in the public domain. It\u2019s the best way to tell readers that the work shouldn\u2019t be reused, or republished, without explicit written consent.<\/p>\n<p>A copyright page will not automatically stop somebody from plagiarizing your work, but it does act as a deterrent. A detailed copyright page makes it much easier to pursue legal action against a plagiarizer.<\/p>\n<p>Not only do copyright pages help to protect your work from plagiarism, but they also contain technical information about the work. Details such as ISBN numbers can be helpful to distributors and retailers.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_eBooks_Need_a_Copyright_Page\"><\/span>Do eBooks Need a Copyright Page?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Even though an eBook is a digital asset, it\u2019s still incredibly important to include a copyright page. Because eBooks are available online, and are more easily shared electronically, eBooks are arguably more vulnerable to plagiarism and piracy.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"3\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_Place_an_eBook_Copyright_Page\"><\/span>Where to Place an eBook Copyright Page<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In printed books, the copyright page is usually found on the reverse of the title page. eBooks are structured differently, so it\u2019s common for an eBook copyright page to immediately follow the title page.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no strict rule for where the copyright page should be placed, however. Some people may put it after the acknowledgement page, while some may have it appear even before the title page.<\/p>\n<div class=\"addContainer acBlue\">\n<div class=\"text\">SELL EBOOKS ONLINEJoin over <b>130,000<\/b> sellers who have launched their online businesses with Payhip<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"action\"><a href=\"https:\/\/payhip.com\/auth\/register\">GET STARTED FOR FREE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"4\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Include_in_Your_eBook_Copyright_Page\"><\/span>What to Include in Your eBook Copyright Page<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Having an eBook copyright page is only worthwhile if it contains the right information. Some details are required, to make it legally legitimate, while others are optional. Here are a few examples of potential features for your eBook copyright page.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Copyright Notice<\/h3>\n<p>The copyright notice is the first example of a feature that all copyright pages should include. It\u2019s basically a declaration of ownership, which establishes you as the legal owner of your work. A copyright notice should include three key pieces of information:<\/p>\n<p>The word \u2018Copyright\u2019, or alternatively the \u2018\u00a9\u2019 symbol. Because the \u2018\u00a9\u2019 symbol is not recognized in all countries, and the word \u2018Copyright\u2019 may not be recognized in non-English speaking countries, you can include both to cover all the bases.<\/p>\n<p>The name of the copyright holder. For most self-published eBooks, this will be the name of the author, or the pen name if one has been used.<\/p>\n<p>The year the eBook was published.<\/p>\n<p>A complete copyright notice should look something like this:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184352\/ebook-copyright-notice.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2111\" src=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184352\/ebook-copyright-notice.png\" alt=\"ebook copyright notice\" width=\"372\" height=\"106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184352\/ebook-copyright-notice.png 372w, https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184352\/ebook-copyright-notice-300x85.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>2. Rights Reserved Notice<\/h3>\n<p>The second essential element of a copyright page is the rights reserved notice. This serves to establish your ownership of the work, and preserves your rights for publication and distribution of the eBook. It also secures you the right to financially benefit from your work.<\/p>\n<p>The only text required for a legitimate rights reserved notice is the words \u2018all rights reserved\u2019. However, additional information can be included at the author\u2019s discretion. For example, you can add details explaining the exclusivity of rights.<\/p>\n<p>An example of a rights reserved notice would be as follows:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184455\/Ebook-Rights-Reserved-Notice.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2112\" src=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184455\/Ebook-Rights-Reserved-Notice.png\" alt=\"Ebook Rights Reserved Notice\" width=\"503\" height=\"201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184455\/Ebook-Rights-Reserved-Notice.png 503w, https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184455\/Ebook-Rights-Reserved-Notice-300x120.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Once your copyright page has a copyright notice and a rights reserved notice, it is complete. However, you may wish to include additional information, such as the following.<\/p>\n<h3>3. ISBN<\/h3>\n<p>An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) doesn\u2019t serve a particular legal purpose. However, you may still wish to include one on your copyright page as it helps with identification of your eBook. This can be a bonus if you plan on making your eBook available for sale through a variety of retailers.<\/p>\n<p>An ISBN can be purchased through the relevant national ISBN Agency for the publisher. A comprehensive list of these by country is available on the International ISBN Agency website.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Disclaimers<\/h3>\n<p>A disclaimer is designed to protect you, as the publisher of your eBook, from legal action undertaken by other parties. It is essentially a place for you to deny responsibility for certain aspects of your work.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if your work is an autobiography or biography, you may wish to include a disclaimer stating that names have been altered to protect people\u2019s privacy. Or, if your eBook is a fictional novel, you may wish to include a disclaimer which denies that your characters have been based on real people.<\/p>\n<p>A typical disclaimer on a copyright page may read as follows:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184551\/Ebook-Disclaimers.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2113\" src=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184551\/Ebook-Disclaimers.png\" alt=\"Ebook Disclaimers\" width=\"496\" height=\"147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184551\/Ebook-Disclaimers.png 496w, https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184551\/Ebook-Disclaimers-300x89.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>5. Permissions Notice<\/h3>\n<p>Including a permissions notice is the best way to show that you have obtained authorization to use the copyrighted material of others in your eBook.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if your eBook contains photographs or illustrations which you did not personally produce, you could include a permissions notice to indicate that permission was obtained from the owners. This may read as follows:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184721\/Ebook-Permissions-Notice.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2115\" src=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184721\/Ebook-Permissions-Notice.png\" alt=\"Ebook Permissions Notice\" width=\"489\" height=\"142\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184721\/Ebook-Permissions-Notice.png 489w, https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24184721\/Ebook-Permissions-Notice-300x87.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>6. Credits<\/h3>\n<p>The credits section of your copyright page gives you the opportunity to acknowledge anyone else who has contributed to your eBook. This could include the artist who created the cover per a commercial proposal, or the editors and proofreaders who helped you to perfect the text.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"5\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Remember_to_Respect_the_Copyright_of_Others\"><\/span>Remember to Respect the Copyright of Others<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While it\u2019s important to protect your own work against plagiarism, it&#8217;s equally as important to respect the rights of other authors and publishers. That\u2019s why you should credit any other authors and creators correctly.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Credit Images<\/h3>\n<p>Any images or graphics you use in your eBook should be properly credited, unless of course you created them yourself. This includes photographs of historical figures, famous buildings or locations, or charts and graphs from studies.<\/p>\n<p>You may be exempt from giving credit if you&#8217;ve purchased a commercial license or have another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pandadoc.com\/profit-sharing-agreement-template\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">profit sharing agreement<\/a> in place, which specifically states that source attribution isn\u2019t required. It\u2019s best to check the terms of any licenses you\u2019ve purchased if this applies to you.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Use Proper Citations<\/h3>\n<p>You should ensure that any references used in your eBook are properly cited. Many authors will do this using footnotes, but there are alternative ways to format references. Just remember to keep the format for citing references consistent throughout your eBook.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Attribute Quotes<\/h3>\n<p>Any quotes from other works should be properly cited in your eBook, but this alone is not enough to avoid allegations of plagiarism. You should also ensure you\u2019re following best practices, such as adding your own original thoughts and analysis of any quotes you utilize.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to take note of fair use laws if you\u2019re planning on including quotes from other works in large quantities. Quotes should be included as a jumping off point for your own unique work. Any quotes you include should be expanded upon in your own words.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that you cannot copyright any material which is already in the public domain. However, you can copyright any unique and original additions you\u2019ve made to this material.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"6\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_Need_to_Register_My_eBook_to_Copyright_It\"><\/span>Do I Need to Register My eBook to Copyright It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Under US copyright law, you have automatic ownership and control over any original works you produce. This includes eBooks, so there\u2019s no need to register to gain copyright protection.<\/p>\n<p>You can choose to voluntarily register your eBook for copyright, however. The U.S. Copyright Office recommends this for a couple of reasons.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, it provides a certificate of registration, and places the facts of your copyright on the public record.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney\u2019s fees in a successful copyright litigation. If you wish to bring a copyright infringement lawsuit for a U.S. work, you must first have registered the copyright.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Copyright_Page_Examples\"><\/span>Copyright Page Examples<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In order to give you an idea of how different copyright pages can look in different eBooks, we\u2019ve gathered a selection here.<\/p>\n<h3>Copyright Page from Great Expectations<\/h3>\n<p>As a novel first published in the 1800s, the copyright page of the Great Expectations eBook focuses more on the current publisher than the original author, Charles Dickens. It does contain several of the features we\u2019ve discussed here, however, such as the copyright and rights reserved notices.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185534\/copyright-page-example.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2117\" src=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185534\/copyright-page-example.png\" alt=\"copyright page example\" width=\"618\" height=\"541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185534\/copyright-page-example.png 618w, https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185534\/copyright-page-example-300x263.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Great-Expectations-Charles-Dickens-ebook\/dp\/B06ZZBJ7RX\/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=charles+dickens&amp;qid=1654424239&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sprefix=charles%2Cdigital-text%2C292&amp;sr=1-2&amp;asin=B06ZZBJ7RX&amp;revisionId=8e5ba53d&amp;format=1&amp;depth=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image sourced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Copyright Page from Akata: The Saga of an American Girl Finding Her Roots<\/h3>\n<p>As an autobiography, Akata: The Saga of an American Girl Finding Her Roots features a good example of a copyright page with a disclaimer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185636\/ebook-copyright-page-example.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2118\" src=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185636\/ebook-copyright-page-example.png\" alt=\"ebook copyright page example\" width=\"575\" height=\"726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185636\/ebook-copyright-page-example.png 575w, https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185636\/ebook-copyright-page-example-238x300.png 238w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Akata-Saga-American-Finding-Roots-ebook\/dp\/B0BLTFJZCL\/ref=sr_1_5?qid=1668347659&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sr=1-5&amp;asin=B0BLTFJZCL&amp;revisionId=d574add9&amp;format=1&amp;depth=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image sourced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Copyright Page from Andy Warhol: A Life From Beginning to End<\/h3>\n<p>As a biography of an artist, images are important to Andy Warhol: A Life From Beginning to End. As such, it features a good example of an image credit on its copyright page.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185757\/book-copyright-page-examples.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2119\" src=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185757\/book-copyright-page-examples.png\" alt=\"book copyright page examples\" width=\"464\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185757\/book-copyright-page-examples.png 464w, https:\/\/staticblog.payhip.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/24185757\/book-copyright-page-examples-300x224.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Andy-Warhol-Beginning-Biographies-Painters-ebook\/dp\/B09T392SF1\/ref=sr_1_17?qid=1668348008&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sr=1-17\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image sourced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protect_Your_eBook_With_a_Copyright_Page\"><\/span>Protect Your eBook With a Copyright Page<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Whether writing is your day job, or you\u2019re doing it as a side hustle, you need to ensure the work you produce is protected. Aside from creating a copyright page, check out our guide on other ideas on how to protect yourself from <a href=\"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/ebook-piracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ebook piracy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While a copyright page is not a complete defense against piracy, plagiarism, and legal action, it is an excellent place to start.<\/p>\n<p>The two most essential aspects of a copyright page are the copyright notice itself, and the rights reserved notice. Other features can be added as required, including an ISBN number, disclaimers, credits, and even contact information for the publisher.<\/p>\n<p>Examine some examples of successful copyright pages for similar works to determine what yours should include, then add it as one of the finishing touches to protect your hard work.<\/p>\n<p>At Payhip, you can implement additional protection to your eBook sales by implementing a <a href=\"https:\/\/help.payhip.com\/article\/79-protecting-your-products#download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download limit<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/help.payhip.com\/article\/79-protecting-your-products#stamping\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PDF stamping<\/a>, or by automatically sending the terms of use or copyright information when distributing your eBooks to your customers.<\/p>\n<p>Once you&#8217;re ready to start selling, check out our step-by-step guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/how-to-sell-ebooks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to sell ebooks<\/a> online. Payhip is one of the most popular tools for eBook sellers.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/payhip.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up for a free account today<\/a> and see for yourself!<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content post-content--narrow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content-meta post-content-meta--narrow\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine spending months researching, writing, and marketing an eBook, only to have another author steal your work and attribute it to themselves. An upsetting thought, isn\u2019t it? That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to copyright your eBook; in the unfortunate event that somebody does try to pass your work off as their own, you\u2019ve got some &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":2120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,102],"tags":[197,198,199],"class_list":["post-2108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-main","category-tutorials","tag-ebook-copyright","tag-ebook-copyright-page","tag-examples-of-copyright-page"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2108"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4885,"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2108\/revisions\/4885"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/payhip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}