Copyright page for a memoir
A memoir copyright page has the usual notice and rights line, plus a short statement about the real people in it: that some names and details were changed and that events are told as you remember them. Fill in the form, and then copy the finished page into your book.
By the Proselis team · Updated
Copyright © 2026 by Ruth Adeyemi
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of nonfiction. Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.
The events in this book are described as the author remembers them. Some conversations have been recreated, and some events have been compressed.
First published in 2026 by Alder Street Books
ISBN 978-1-234567-89-7 (paperback)
Cover design by Tomás Reyes
Edited by Hannah Lowe
Paste it into your book’s copyright page, in Proselis or anywhere else.
- 1Copyright notice
It shows your name and the year the book is first published. The word “Copyright” and the © symbol together are the usual form.
- 2Rights reserved
This tells readers they need your permission to copy the book. Proselis starts every copyright page with this text, and you can edit it.
- 3Memoir statement
This tells readers what you changed. On its own, it does not protect you from a privacy or defamation claim.
- 4Edition and publisher
This line names the edition and your imprint, if you use one. Leave the imprint out if you publish under your own name.
- 5ISBN
Each format needs its own ISBN. It must match the ISBN on the back cover and in your KDP listing.
- 6Credits
This line credits your cover designer and editor. It is optional, but designers often ask for it in their contract.
Three ways to word the memoir statement
Pick the length that suits your book. “Use this” puts it on the page above.
Some names and identifying details have been changed.
This is a work of nonfiction. Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved. The events are described as the author remembers them.
This memoir reflects the author’s recollections of experiences over many years. Some names and characteristics have been changed, some events have been compressed, and some dialogue has been recreated. Where memories differ, this account is the author’s own.
What does changing a name actually do?
Changing a name stops strangers from knowing who you mean. It rarely hides someone from the people who know them, and those are the readers who matter if a person feels wronged. If a scene could embarrass or harm someone recognizable, change more than the name: their job, their town, or how they look. The statement on this page is a courtesy to readers, not a legal shield.
Is it a memoir or a novel based on real events?
If you changed so much that the book no longer describes what happened, call it fiction and use the fiction statement instead. Readers and stores treat the two differently, and KDP asks you to choose categories that match what the book is.
Where does the copyright page go?
In a printed book, it sits on the back of the title page, a left-hand page, set small and near the bottom. In an ebook, many authors move it to the end so the free sample on Amazon shows more of the book. KDP accepts either.
Do you need to register your copyright?
No. Your book is protected the moment you write it. In the US, registration is optional, but you must register before you can sue for infringement, and registering within three months of publication makes extra damages available. The UK and Australia have no copyright register at all, and India’s is optional.
Questions
Do I need permission to write about my family?
Generally, you don’t. Your life includes other people, and you can write about it. The risks are publishing private facts that serve no purpose in the story or stating something false that harms someone’s reputation. Changing details and sticking to what you can stand behind lowers both risks.
Can I include old letters or song lyrics?
A letter’s words belong to the person who wrote it, even if you own the paper. Song lyrics are tightly licensed, and even a line or two usually needs permission. List each permission on the copyright page in a line like this: “Excerpt from the letter of May 4, 1987, used by permission of the estate.”
Do I need an ISBN on the copyright page?
Include one if your book has one. KDP gives paperbacks a free ISBN, and Kindle ebooks don’t need one. Each format gets its own ISBN, so list each with its format in parentheses.
Can I copy this page into my book?
Yes. Everything this generator writes is free to use, change, and publish.
This page explains common publishing practice. It isn’t legal advice. For anything that could harm a real person’s reputation, talk to a publishing lawyer.
Format the rest of your book here too
Proselis is free for writing, organizing chapters, and Word export. Publishing a book as an EPUB and a print-ready PDF is a one-time $20.