Copyright page for UK books
A UK copyright page usually adds one line that American books leave out: a statement asserting the author’s moral right to be named. Many UK books also say where they were first published. Fill in the form, and then copy the finished page into your book.
By the Proselis team · Updated
Copyright © 2026 by Harriet Cole
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 fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The right of Harriet Cole to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in Great Britain in 2026 by Larkspur Books
ISBN 978-1-234567-89-7 (paperback)
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.
- 3Book statement
Pick the fiction statement if it fits. Add the British Library line only if your book is in its CIP program.
- 4Moral rights
UK and Australian books use this line. In the UK, the right to be named as author applies only once you assert it.
- 5Edition 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.
- 6ISBN
Each format needs its own ISBN. It must match the ISBN on the back cover and in your KDP listing.
Three ways to word the moral rights line
Pick the length that suits your book. “Use this” puts it on the page above.
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
The right of Harriet Cole to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Harriet Cole asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work under sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Why do UK books assert moral rights?
UK law gives authors the right to be named as the author of their work, but that right takes effect only once it’s asserted in writing. The line on the copyright page is the usual way to assert it.
Do you need to send a copy to the British Library?
You do if you publish a print book in the UK. The law asks the publisher to send one copy to the British Library within a month of publication, and as a self-published author, that’s you. The other five legal deposit libraries can ask for a copy too.
Where do UK authors get ISBNs?
Nielsen is the ISBN agency for the UK and Ireland. KDP’s free ISBN also works if you sell only through Amazon, but it lists the book as independently published.
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.
Questions
Do I need to register my copyright in the UK?
No. The UK has no copyright register. Your work is protected as soon as it’s written down.
Should I write “Printed in Great Britain”?
Write it only if every copy is printed there. KDP prints in several countries and adds its own printing details, so most self-published authors leave the line out.
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.