Technical Details

For your convenience, Morris Publishing offers services to obtain copyright, bar code, and a Library of Congress Control Number for your book.

ISBN

The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is the 10- or 13-digit number on the back of a book which identifies the publisher and book title. Booksellers use this number to order, price, and keep track of inventory. Morris Publishing is the printer of your book; you are the publisher. Therefore, we cannot file for an ISBN for you. The number needs to be registered to you, not us. R.R. Bowker assigns numbers, and you can file online at www.isbn.org or www.bowker.com. Filing and waiting for your ISBN takes 15 business days, so plan ahead to avoid production delays.

Not every book needs an ISBN. However, if you plan to distribute your book through major bookstores and franchised retail shops, you must include an ISBN and bar code on your book. Most major bookstores will not carry a book unless it contains both.

Bookland EAN Bar Code

An EAN bar code is your ISBN transferred into an OCR (optical character readable) scannable image. If you plan to distribute your book through smaller bookstores and local retail shops, you're usually safe with only an ISBN. A bar code is necessary if you plan to sell through major bookstores and retailers. Check with the merchants you plan to call on to sell your book.

UPC Bar Code

In addition to the EAN bar code, a book may require a Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code if it will be sold to retailers other than bookstores. Depending on your marketing plan, the book may require both EAN and UPC bar codes. Ask retailers if you are not sure.

Printing a Bar Code

If used, a bar code must be printed on a white background in black ink. Morris Publishing can create an EAN bar code for your book and place it on the back cover for $20. If you are providing a press-ready cover, allow space for a bar code to be dropped in. You can also have the bar code printed on the inside front cover or on labels for an additional charge. Our Download Center provides press-ready cover information that shows the bar code placement.

If both an EAN bar code and UPC bar code are required, print the one that will be used most on the outside back cover and the other one on the inside front cover. Be sure to allow for this in the cover design. Do not place both bar codes on the back cover.

Library of Congress Control Number

The Library of Congress set up a unique numbering system to create a database of forthcoming publications that are primarily used by public and private libraries. This number is only necessary if you plan to market your book to libraries. If your book is smaller than 50 pages, it does not qualify for a Library of Congress Control Number unless it is a children's book or a genealogy.

The application for a Library of Congress Control Number must be submitted before the book is published; a number cannot be assigned to a book that was already published. Morris Publishing can apply for the number for $20. You may apply for the number yourself by going to www.loc.gov. A Library of Congress Control Number takes about three weeks to obtain and may cause a delay in production, so be sure to allow processing time.

CIP Data

CIP (Cataloging in Publication) data is book cataloging data that is not required. However, it is helpful for library cataloging. If your main market is libraries, you may want to consider securing this information. CIP Data takes four weeks to obtain, so be sure to allow time before you send us your book.

If you are an established publisher and have published at least three titles for authors other than yourself, you can obtain CIP data from the Library of Congress. If you are a self-published author, call Quality Books at 800-323-4241 or go to www.quality-books.com for information on rates and to obtain forms. Morris Publishing cannot file for you.

Trademark

A trademark establishes instant identification with a product through words, symbols, and devices that identify and distinguish one product from another. A few examples are: Coca Cola™, Kodak Color Watch™, and Lean Cuisine™. You may also see the trademark listed as ® for registered trademark.

Two main infringements of trademarks to avoid:

1. Using a symbol or mark that is similar in appearance or name to that of another product.

2. Using an identifying feature that is so similar to another product it is likely to cause confusion in the mind of the consumer. This could include color, cover, images, packaging, and title.

If Morris Publishing suspects your book is violating a trademark, we will not begin production until we have confirmed approval for its usage or changes are made to the mark in question.

If you have questions regarding registered trademarks or using brand names in your book, contact the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office at www.uspto.gov.

Copyright

Copyright is a form of protection provided by U.S. laws to the "original works of authorship." By copyrighting your book, you are protecting the text, photographs, drawings, and maps, but not the title. In book publishing, you cannot copyright a book title, names, or short phrases.

You are not required to file with the Copyright Office to secure your copyright. When a work is created, copyright is automatically secured. However, it is recommended that you file for copyright with the Copyright Office to establish a public record of your copyright claim. You cannot file an infringement suit if your work is not registered with the Copyright Office.

We can file for your copyright for $75, or you may file for copyright yourself. You can contact the Copyright Office in Washington, D.C., at 202-707-3000 or go to www.copyright.gov. If you file for copyright, you will be required to provide two copies of your book. If Morris Publishing files for your copyright, we will see that the copies are sent. Once filed, it takes a minimum of 16 weeks to receive the copyright certificate.