ISBN from Smashwords: use elsewhere ?

saoir · 10-07-2014, 07:16 PM

Hi all,

I punished to KDP without an ISBN and then a week later to Smashwords where I accepted the free ISNB no.

Where do I stand now with this ISBN ? Can I use it to publish on iBooks ? and use back on Amazon ? Or is it usable only on Smashwords ?

arjaybe · 10-07-2014, 07:47 PM

As far as I know, the ISBN identifies that particular book, so it can be used with that book wherever it is.

cromag · 10-07-2014, 08:02 PM

Log in to Smashwords, click on the question mark icon in the upper right of the screen, cursor down the left column (Authors/Publishers) and click on "ISBNs."

crich70 · 10-07-2014, 08:02 PM

Here's what Wikipedia has on the ISBN: ISBN

Quote:

An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation (except reprintings) of a book. For example, an ebook, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different ISBN.

So if your book is hard cover you will have one for that, another if you go to soft cover and another probably for ebook. That way publishers can tell which edition/variation of your book they are dealing with.

saoir · 10-07-2014, 09:03 PM

Thanks guys. I was afraid that Smashwords would somehow have a way of restricting it's use considering they supplied it.

Freeshadow · 10-07-2014, 10:29 PM

ISBN is pretty useless on Amazon. Since it's a closed system their own asin nr. should suffice. Since ISBN use is to uniquely ID a specific product for every distribution channel (Bookland EAN) it might have sense to have one for same editions sold via multiple sellers (e. g. have one for your epub and another for your PDF - both self-made and offered through multiple shops) This way it's clear that regardless if the book is bought in shop A or B it's the same file. But as amazon is concerned: the only place to get amazon books is amazon. Hence no need for an "external" identifier. As for Slushwords: It's their ISBN for their edition. No use of it for another.
If you want your own ebooks with ISBN you need to buy your own.

cromag · 10-07-2014, 10:36 PM

If you're putting it up on Smashwords anyway, why not let them distribute it to Apple (Itunes/Ibooks)?

saoir · 10-07-2014, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

As for Slushwords: It's their ISBN for their edition. No use of it for another.

Oh ? I thought it was a different ISBN for each format ? So if I sell an identical ePub format elsewhere I can use the same ISBN ?

arjaybe · 10-08-2014, 01:25 AM

Each format gets its own ISBN, and each format has the same ISBN wherever it is. That is, you wouldn't give the same ISBN to both the ePub format and the audio recording. But the ePub has the same ISBN at Smashwords and Amazon.

gmw · 10-08-2014, 08:04 AM

The rules for ISBNs say that every different edition should have its own ISBN - so hardcovers had a different ISBN to paperbacks and so on. With ebooks I have seen people say that a Kindle version should technically have a different ISBN to a epub, but I've also see others that say not. Since Amazon don't care much about the ISBN anyway, I have used the same ISBN. (All my ebooks, currently, come from the one source epub, so I think this approach is justified.)

If, however, I were to submit a Word document to Smashwords and let them meatgrind it into their dozen other formats - and if I wanted those to have an ISBN - then I believe they should have a separate ISBN to my original epub, because such versions are, realistically, a new edition.

saoir · 10-08-2014, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Each format gets its own ISBN, and each format has the same ISBN wherever it is. That is, you wouldn't give the same ISBN to both the ePub format and the audio recording. But the ePub has the same ISBN at Smashwords and Amazon.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking too.

arjaybe · 10-08-2014, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saoir

Thanks. That's what I was thinking too.

Keeping in mind that I wasn't thinking about Amazon having its own format. I just used them as an example of another place the ePub might be. Bad example, probably. I blame my ignorance.-)

Freeshadow · 10-08-2014, 02:46 PM

That's exactly why: no previously used ISBN for amazon.
Another format another number. And since you order azw's exclusively via Amazon there is no point in wasting an ISBN on them.

10-07-2014, 07:16 PM	#1
saoir Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 2088290 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Paperwhite	ISBN from Smashwords: use elsewhere ? Hi all, I punished to KDP without an ISBN and then a week later to Smashwords where I accepted the free ISNB no. Where do I stand now with this ISBN ? Can I use it to publish on iBooks ? and use back on Amazon ? Or is it usable only on Smashwords ?

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10-07-2014, 07:47 PM	#2
arjaybe Wizard Posts: 1,000 Karma: 12012526 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Canada Device: Sony PRS-650	As far as I know, the ISBN identifies that particular book, so it can be used with that book wherever it is.

10-07-2014, 08:02 PM	#3
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,289 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Log in to Smashwords, click on the question mark icon in the upper right of the screen, cursor down the left column (Authors/Publishers) and click on "ISBNs."

10-07-2014, 09:03 PM	#5
saoir Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 2088290 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Thanks guys. I was afraid that Smashwords would somehow have a way of restricting it's use considering they supplied it.

10-07-2014, 10:29 PM	#6
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,791 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	ISBN is pretty useless on Amazon. Since it's a closed system their own asin nr. should suffice. Since ISBN use is to uniquely ID a specific product for every distribution channel (Bookland EAN) it might have sense to have one for same editions sold via multiple sellers (e. g. have one for your epub and another for your PDF - both self-made and offered through multiple shops) This way it's clear that regardless if the book is bought in shop A or B it's the same file. But as amazon is concerned: the only place to get amazon books is amazon. Hence no need for an "external" identifier. As for Slushwords: It's their ISBN for their edition. No use of it for another. If you want your own ebooks with ISBN you need to buy your own.

10-07-2014, 10:36 PM	#7
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,289 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	If you're putting it up on Smashwords anyway, why not let them distribute it to Apple (Itunes/Ibooks)?

10-08-2014, 01:25 AM	#9
arjaybe Wizard Posts: 1,000 Karma: 12012526 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Canada Device: Sony PRS-650	Each format gets its own ISBN, and each format has the same ISBN wherever it is. That is, you wouldn't give the same ISBN to both the ePub format and the audio recording. But the ePub has the same ISBN at Smashwords and Amazon.

10-08-2014, 08:04 AM	#10
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	The rules for ISBNs say that every different edition should have its own ISBN - so hardcovers had a different ISBN to paperbacks and so on. With ebooks I have seen people say that a Kindle version should technically have a different ISBN to a epub, but I've also see others that say not. Since Amazon don't care much about the ISBN anyway, I have used the same ISBN. (All my ebooks, currently, come from the one source epub, so I think this approach is justified.) If, however, I were to submit a Word document to Smashwords and let them meatgrind it into their dozen other formats - and if I wanted those to have an ISBN - then I believe they should have a separate ISBN to my original epub, because such versions are, realistically, a new edition.

10-08-2014, 02:46 PM	#13
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,791 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	That's exactly why: no previously used ISBN for amazon. Another format another number. And since you order azw's exclusively via Amazon there is no point in wasting an ISBN on them.