Comments on: ISBN – Who Really Cares?

By: Walt Shiel

Walt Shiel — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:50 +0000

The LCCN is assigned to the work itself (the package of text, photos, etc.), which means you use the same LCCN for all formats. The ISBN, on the other hand, identifies a particular content AND format. Just ask yourself if it will matter to the end customer which format they receive — e.g., if they expected an ePub format but receive a PDF or expected a print book and get a Kindle version, will they be annoyed? If the answer is yes, each of those formats must have a unique ISBN. The ISBN is a supply chain identifier.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:18:51 +0000

Walt: I have now gone through ALL the ISBN articles and I guess I understand (sort of) the process of assigning ISBNs to the various formats. Discouraging! I thought I would buy a block of ten, but now it looks like perhaps a block of 100 is necessary. I guess I don’t need you to answer the question I asked a few minutes ago, unless you have some extra insight. Thanks for all the valuable information!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:42:44 +0000

Walt: would you clarify a point please? You say that if we issue a single title as a paperback, a hardcover, and an E book, we’ll need 3 separate ISBNs. Recently I read on another blog that if one’s E book is the same text as the paperback, one does NOT have to issue a separate ISBN to the ebook, and that it is fine to use the same ISBN for both. Was that information incorrect?

By: Walt Shiel

Walt Shiel — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:41:21 +0000

The answer is…it depends.

It depends on exactly what the contract says or how the site’s terms & conditions specify what you’re getting with that ISBN.

If the outlet assigns you an ISBN from their own block of ISBNs, it would point to them as the publisher of record and they would own that ISBN. Which means you could not use it anywhere else.

An ISBN is a supply chain identifier that incorporates a numerical code the identifies the country/region of origin and the publisher of record. For more on what that means and how it is contained within the ISBN, read some of the other articles I have posted on this blog. Links to those articles are posted here: http://waltshiel.com/all-about-isbns/

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:29:35 +0000

I self-publish an ebook serial in 60 languages 4 per year, up to 300 pieces per year including multiple episode issues. Buying isbns is never an option, but staying out of the big stores due to no isbn is too depressing. Many now give out free isbns. what rights do they have if i accept – to control my distribution of the isbn’d edition – can they now tell me i can only distribute through them as i have seen some claim? am i now there prisoner? or am i free to sell my ebooks on every eshelf online as i always have done as a non committed author? is it the display of the isbn they control or do they control the work itself?

ive been told an isbn is a license plate. someone big owns it, built it, and it can only go on one car, but your still free to drive that car anywhere you want??