A Bowker imprint, to put it simply, is the name and logo that distinguishes a publisher or self-publisher. The official ISBN agency in the US is Bowker, which also provides an imprint service to assist publishers in building their own brands. As a result, you can give your publishing endeavor a unique name and logo rather than utilizing your name or that of your company as the publisher.
So how does one acquire a Bowker imprint? The procedure is purchasing a block of ISBNs and registering your imprint with Bowker. For $295, you can choose to buy a minimum of 10 ISBNs, together with the registration of your imprint. Alternatively, you can save money by buying a larger block of ISBNs, starting at 100 ISBNs for $575.
You might now be asking if obtaining a Bowker imprint through self-publishing requires a publishing house. No, you may still self-publish under your own name, buy ISBNs, and register your imprint with Bowker. However, a distinct imprint can offer your publishing endeavor a more polished and established appearance.
Another frequently asked concern is whether your book is actually yours if you publish via Amazon’s self-publishing program Createspace. No, you still have ownership of your book’s rights. The publisher of record for the book’s information will, however, be labeled as Createspace if you choose to use their free ISBN option. You can prevent this by registering your own imprint with Bowker and buying your own block of ISBNs.
Lastly, is your publishing imprint required to be registered? Technically, no—doing so is not required by law. However, registering your imprint with Bowker might help you establish yourself as a reputable publisher by giving you more control over your publishing brand.
In conclusion, a publisher or self-publisher can be recognized by their distinctive name and logo, known as a Bowker imprint. You can get one by purchasing a block of ISBNs and registering your imprint with Bowker. To self-publish and obtain an imprint, you do not require a publishing house, and if you use Createspace to publish your book, Createspace will not own it. Although it is not legally necessary to register your imprint, doing so might give you more control over your publishing brand.
Depending on the nation and language, several publishers have released JK Rowling’s books. In the UK and the US, Bloomsbury and Scholastic respectively served as the Harry Potter books’ first publishers. There are numerous other publishers for her novels in various nations and languages, though.