CopyrightTips from experts* at CopyrightsNow.com
ISBN vs. Copyrights?
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each specific edition and format of a book, such as hardcover, paperback, e-book, audio-book, etc. It is used to identify and track books in the book industry. ISBNs may be purchased and maintained at Bowker's myidentifiers.com website.
Copyright is a type of intellectual property that grants legal protection to the creators of original works, such as printed book, e-book, audio-book, video, photos, illustrations, pictures, songs, software and website.
Copyright is intended to protect the original expression of an idea in the form of a creative work, but not the idea itself. While you are automatically granted a copyright when you create an original work, the U. S. Supreme Court requires that you register your copyrights before filing a lawsuit to protect and enforce your rights. You can register both unpublished and published works.
Do you need a separate Copyright for each ISBN?
No… you do not need a separate copyright for each ISBN. Copyright applies to the work as a whole, not to specific editions or formats of the work.
For example:
You need a separate ISBN for each format of the same work, such as: hardcover, paperback, e-book, audio-book, etc. But as long as each format has the identical content (i.e., same title and manuscript version, same photos, illustrations, cover art, etc.) and the same author(s) and claimant(s) then one copyright usually covers all formats.
If an ISBN refers to different works or different authors or claimants (i.e., with different titles or manuscript, etc.) then you would need a separate copyright for each ISBN. If a new edition of the book is created with a revised cover or revised text, it may be considered a new work and should be registered with a new copyright application to cover the changes from the previous work.
It's worth noting that ISBN is an optional field on a copyright application – and only one ISBN can be listed, so it’s best to list the primary ISBN that may have the most sales. To start your copyright protection, click to learn more about registration NOW!
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The information contained in this post and software application are believed to be accurate at the time of publication; however, copyright regulations change and subject to various interpretations… so always consult with a personal attorney for legal advice.
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