Learn / Copyright & ISBN
Copyright and ISBN, for Indian authors.
Two separate things, often confused, both important. Here's what each one does and how to handle them properly.
Copyright is automatic
The moment you write something original, you own copyright in it under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957. No registration is required for the copyright itself to exist or to be enforceable.
What registration with the Copyright Office in New Delhi does provide is a public record of your authorship — useful evidence if you ever need to demonstrate ownership in court. Registration costs around ₹500 and can be filed online at copyright.gov.in.
ISBN is a unique product identifier
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a 13-digit identifier that uniquely identifies a specific edition of a specific book — paperback gets one, hardcover gets a separate one, the eBook gets a third, the audiobook a fourth.
Retailers, libraries and distributors use ISBNs to inventory and track books. Without an ISBN, your book can't be listed in many catalogues.
Where to get an ISBN in India
Indian ISBNs are issued free of charge by the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN, an arm of the Ministry of Education. Apply at isbnindia.gov.in. Free.
If you publish through Amazon KDP, KDP can issue a free ISBN, but the imprint on that ISBN will say 'Independently Published' rather than your own publisher name.
IngramSpark uses your own ISBN — so getting one from the Indian agency keeps you flexible across both channels with the same identifier.
Which ISBN to put on which edition
One ISBN per format: one for paperback, one for hardcover, one for the eBook, one for the audiobook.
A new ISBN is also required if you significantly revise the content (a second edition), but not for cosmetic reprints or minor corrections.
Other things worth registering
Trademark your imprint name if you plan to publish multiple titles under it.
Register the manuscript with the Copyright Office before sharing with editors and designers if you want a clear timestamp of ownership.
Keep an off-site backup of your manuscript — copyright doesn't bring lost files back.
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