Guide for authors
What does publisher of record mean?
Updated September 2026
The short answer: The publisher of record is the person or company registered against a book’s ISBN as its publisher. It is the name the book trade sees. It does not mean they own your copyright, and it does not decide who gets the royalties: your contract does.
What the publisher of record does
- Registers the book against its ISBN in the trade databases (Nielsen BookData in the UK), so retailers, wholesalers and libraries can find it.
- Keeps the details accurate: title, format, price, description and categories. Good data is what makes a book discoverable.
- Deals with the trade, from distributors to retailers.
- Handles legal deposit: in the UK, sending a copy to the British Library.
What it does not mean
Being publisher of record is about the book as a product in the trade. It does not give anyone your copyright, which stays with you unless you sign it away, and it does not automatically decide who receives the income. Those are set by your agreement.
Why it matters to you
- Credibility. Retailers, libraries and readers see an established imprint name rather than a generic one.
- Reach. A publisher with its own ISBNs can distribute to Amazon, bookshops and libraries from one record.
- Simplicity. Someone who knows the system looks after the records and obligations for you.
- The future. ISBNs stay with the publisher that registered them, so it is worth knowing what happens to your book and files if you ever move on.
Four questions to ask any publishing service
- Who is the publisher of record on the ISBN?
- Who owns the copyright?
- Who receives the royalties, and is any share taken?
- What happens to the book, the files and the accounts if I leave?
A good publisher answers all four clearly, in writing, before you pay anything.
Schribe’s answers
Schribe Publishing is publisher of record on every book we publish, using Nielsen ISBNs from our own range. You keep your copyright. You keep every penny of your royalties, and we take no share of your book’s income. Our full answers, including what happens if you leave, are on How Schribe works.
Want it done properly, without the guesswork?
Schribe publishes books to trade standard at fixed, published prices from £995. You keep your copyright and every penny of royalties.
Frequently asked questions
Is the publisher of record the same as the copyright owner?
No. The publisher of record is registered against the ISBN. Copyright belongs to the author unless it is transferred in writing.
If I self-publish, who is the publisher of record?
If you buy your own ISBNs, you are. If you use a free ISBN from Amazon KDP, Amazon’s independent publishing imprint is listed instead.
Who is the publisher of record for Schribe books?
Schribe Publishing, using Nielsen ISBNs from our own range. Authors keep their copyright and every penny of royalties.