A Quick Guide To ISBNs, Copyright & Legal Stuff

Let’s cut to it. You’re writing a book. You’ve heard mutterings about ISBNs, copyright, and legal “must-dos” — and you’re wondering if you need a law degree before you can hit ‘publish.’

You don’t. But you do need to get the basics right. In Australia, those basics are pretty straightforward… once someone actually explains them without the jargon. So here’s your plain-English guide.

ISBN — Do You Actually Need One?

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It’s a 13-digit identifier that tells booksellers, libraries, and distributors exactly which book they’re dealing with. Think of it as your book’s passport.

In Australia:

• You get ISBNs through Thorpe-Bowker (they have the exclusive licence here).
• One ISBN per format — print, ebook, audiobook all need separate ISBNs.
• An ISBN is not legally required to publish a book in Australia. You can publish without one — but without an ISBN, your book can’t be sold through most bookstores or libraries.

Cost (as at August 2025):

• 1 ISBN: $55
• 10 ISBNs: $88 (most authors go for this — cheaper per unit and future-proofed for new editions)

💡 Tip: If you use Amazon KDP or other platforms, they might offer a free ISBN. That’s fine for ebooks sold only there, but you can’t use that ISBN anywhere else. If you want control, buy your own.

Copyright — You Already Have It

Copyright is the legal right to control how your work is used. In Australia, the moment you create an original work — and it’s written down, typed, recorded, or otherwise fixed — it’s protected.

The key facts:

• No registration required. Australia doesn’t have a copyright registry. You own copyright automatically.
• Duration: For works created on/after 1 January 2019, copyright generally lasts for your lifetime + 70 years (source: Australian Copyright Council).
• Marking your work: You can add “© Your Name Year” to your book, but it’s not legally required. It’s a courtesy and a deterrent.
• What it protects: The expression of your ideas — not the ideas themselves. (You can’t copyright “a story about a teenage wizard” but you can copyright your exact words describing him.)

💡 Tip: Keep drafts, notes, and dated versions — they can be useful proof if there’s ever a dispute.

Legal Deposits — Yes, You Have Homework

In Australia, the Legal Deposit requirement means that when you publish a book (in any format), you must lodge a copy with:

1. The National Library of Australia
2. Your state or territory library — for Queensland authors, that’s the State Library of Queensland.

This applies to print books and ebooks. Libraries use these to build a complete archive of Australian publishing. There’s no fee, but it is a legal obligation.

Other Legal Considerations for Authors

• Defamation: If you write about real people, be careful. In Australia, defamation laws are strict. Truth is a defence, but you still need to consider harm to reputation. For guidance, see Arts Law Centre of Australia’s factsheet.
• Permissions: If you use song lyrics, large text extracts, or artworks you didn’t create — you need permission unless it clearly falls under fair dealing. In Australia, fair dealing is narrow. Check the Australian Copyright Council guide.
• Trademarks: Don’t put someone else’s trademarked name or logo on your cover unless you have permission. This includes brand names in titles.

Quick Checklist Before You Publish

✅ ISBN purchased (or confirmed you don’t need one)
✅ Copyright statement in your book (optional but smart)
✅ Legal deposit copies ready for NLA + State Library
✅ Permissions obtained for any third-party material
✅ Manuscript reviewed for potential defamation risk

Bottom Line

You don’t need a solicitor on speed dial, but you do need to understand the basics. ISBNs make your book findable. Copyright protects your words automatically. Legal deposit keeps the nation’s literary memory intact. And knowing the rules protects you from a nasty (and expensive) surprise later.

Do the homework once, and you can get back to the fun part — writing the next one.

Grif’s Quick Tips on Publishing Overseas

1. Your copyright starts at home.

• Under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), Australian Copyright is recognised in most countries because Australia is part of the Berne Convention (an international copyright treaty with 180+ member countries).

2. Going global doesn’t cancel your rights.

• When you sell or promote overseas, your Aussie copyright is still valid — but it’s enforced under their local laws.
• This means your rights look the same on paper, but enforcement (if someone copies your work) might be trickier and more expensive outside Australia.

3. Know what you’re signing with overseas publishers.

• If you sign with a US, UK, or other foreign publisher, read the contract carefully:
  • Are you giving them world rights or just rights in specific territories?
  • Are they getting print rights, ebook rights, audio rights — or all of them?
  • Is it exclusive or non-exclusive?
• Don’t give away more than they can realistically sell.

4. Consider ISBN strategy.

• ISBNs are country-specific. If you self-publish globally, you can buy your ISBNs from Thorpe-Bowker (the Australian agency) so you remain the publisher of record, even for overseas sales.
• If you take an ISBN from an overseas platform (like Amazon’s free ISBN), they become the publisher of record in that market. Not always a deal-breaker, but worth knowing.

5. Protecting your work overseas.

• You can’t register copyright in Australia, but some countries (like the US) let you register to strengthen your enforcement rights.
• If you expect big sales in the US, registration there can make legal action easier and cheaper if someone rips you off.

6. Don’t forget tax.

• Overseas publishers and platforms may withhold tax. Example: US companies will withhold 30% unless you file the right forms (W-8BEN for Aussies).
• Check if Australia has a tax treaty with the country — at the time of writing, we do with the US — so you can reduce or remove that withholding.

In Short:

• Your copyright is global thanks to treaties.
• Your contracts decide who can do what where.
• A bad rights deal is harder to undo than bad cover art.

Quick tip: Before signing anything with an overseas publisher, run the contract past an Australian Society of Authors (ASA) contract advisor or an IP lawyer. Cheap insurance against nasty surprises.

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