ISBN's for Ebooks

Millie · 04-06-2011, 02:53 PM

If I create 3 slightly different EPUB files, 1 for ibooks, 1 for nook and one for Kindle, to sell on there sights. Do I need 3 ISBN's or can I use 1?

wannabee · 04-07-2011, 01:53 AM

It seems best practice is to have a different ISBN for each edition. Paperback, hardcover, epub, pdf, mobi etc.

Some around here don't agree but if you need to track sales by kind or if a library/store/customer needs to order by kind, there needs to be a way to differentiate.

neilmarr · 04-07-2011, 07:45 AM

Yup, Wannabe: 'Fraid I'm one to disagree.

Early on, each ebook edition required a separate ISBN, but that was a money-spinning ploy by the ISBN agencies (don't forget they're commercial). It would cost even a small indie like my own with 120 titles in paperback and three ebook editions at any given time a bundle. We'd be going through ISBNs, which we buy in batches of 100, like a ferret through a rabit hutch.

It was soon dropped and a single ISBN serves for all digital editions now.

Thing is that the ISBN is merely a search facility. Once an ebook is identified, the buyer is presented with format options.

Separate ISBNs are assigned to hardback and paperback editions of a title to avoid confusion. No such confusion exists when a third ISBN is applied to all ebook formats.

Cheers. Neil

jbcohen · 04-07-2011, 08:13 AM

A single ISBN referrs to the digital editions of a single book? One ISBN referrs to all digital editions of all books?

pholy · 04-07-2011, 09:40 AM

I believe a single ISBN refers to all digital formats of a single edition of each book. If a book is revised (except for fixing typos and format errors) it should get a new ISBN, I think.

wannabee · 04-07-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Yup, Wannabe: 'Fraid I'm one to disagree.

It was soon dropped and a single ISBN serves for all digital editions now.

Thing is that the ISBN is merely a search facility. Once an ebook is identified, the buyer is presented with format options.

Cheers. Neil

Thanks guys. Neil, was that just at BewriteBooks or was it something that other publishers are now doing?

neilmarr · 04-07-2011, 11:01 AM

Nope, not just with us, Mark.

In fact, we originally fell for it -- like the dumbos we can sometimes be -- and assigned individual ISBNs for each ebook format of our titles until the agencies were challenged by bigger houses, withdrew and very quickly agreed that a single ISBN (though separate from hardback and paperback, of course) would cover all ebook editions in all formats.

Saves a wee house a wee fortune, and a bigger house a bigger fortune.

Kid ya not; unnecessary, mate. For instance, try searching an ebook by ISBN alone and you'll see how effective the one-code-for-all system actually is. Works like a charm -- as do all fairly bought and sold ISBNs.

But thanks for the chance to explain. Much appreciated. Here's even more Karma to ya for helping a few others dodge a commercial and discredited ploy. Cheers. Neil

HarryT · 04-07-2011, 12:59 PM

Surely it makes sense to have different ISBNs for the different formats of an eBook, just as it does for paper books? Would you not want to separate ePub and Kindle versions of an eBook, just as you'd separate hardback and paperback editions of a paper book?

neilmarr · 04-07-2011, 02:41 PM

It's absolutely unnecessary for ebooks, Harry, because once a browser has identified his target ebook title, he has a choice of format download at his fingertips. With the greatest respect (and you know I mean that), you're putting forward the same flimsy argument that the commercial ISBN agencies tries to con us all with. There is NO need for separate ISBNs for individual ebook editions. Best wishes. Neil

wannabee · 04-07-2011, 06:53 PM

Well that's 44 ISBNs I can save for my employer straight away. Although we've already bought them. Ever heard of selling unused ISBNs?

pholy · 04-07-2011, 10:12 PM

You could just publish some more ebooks

wannabee · 04-07-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pholy

You could just publish some more ebooks

Oh! Welcome to the forums Millie.

HarryT · 04-08-2011, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

It's absolutely unnecessary for ebooks, Harry, because once a browser has identified his target ebook title, he has a choice of format download at his fingertips. With the greatest respect (and you know I mean that), you're putting forward the same flimsy argument that the commercial ISBN agencies tries to con us all with. There is NO need for separate ISBNs for individual ebook editions. Best wishes. Neil

We're going to have to agree to differ about this one, Neil

.

The purpose of an ISBN is to uniquely identify a particular product. I would certainly view the Kindle edition of an eBook to be a different product to the ePub edition of the same book, just as a hardback version of a book is a different product to the paperback edition of the same book.

I really don't regard it as a flimsy argument, but as a very valid one. But that's just my personal opinion, of course.

EowynCarter · 04-08-2011, 07:35 AM

Well, as a buyer, the only time I needed to look at ISBN, was to differentiate the US and UK editions.

wannabee · 04-08-2011, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

We're going to have to agree to differ about this one, Neil

.

Your argument makes perfect sense Harry. You saw my post (#2) However, I'm going with the publishers who have to explain the bottom line to the bean counters on this one. If someone put me against the wall on this issue Neil's argument would win.

04-06-2011, 02:53 PM	#1
Millie Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: ipad	ISBN's for Ebooks If I create 3 slightly different EPUB files, 1 for ibooks, 1 for nook and one for Kindle, to sell on there sights. Do I need 3 ISBN's or can I use 1?

04-07-2011, 11:01 AM	#7
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Nope, not just with us, Mark. In fact, we originally fell for it -- like the dumbos we can sometimes be -- and assigned individual ISBNs for each ebook format of our titles until the agencies were challenged by bigger houses, withdrew and very quickly agreed that a single ISBN (though separate from hardback and paperback, of course) would cover all ebook editions in all formats. Saves a wee house a wee fortune, and a bigger house a bigger fortune. Kid ya not; unnecessary, mate. For instance, try searching an ebook by ISBN alone and you'll see how effective the one-code-for-all system actually is. Works like a charm -- as do all fairly bought and sold ISBNs. But thanks for the chance to explain. Much appreciated. Here's even more Karma to ya for helping a few others dodge a commercial and discredited ploy. Cheers. Neil Last edited by neilmarr; 04-07-2011 at 11:03 AM.

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04-07-2011, 01:53 AM	#2
wannabee Media Bloke Posts: 2,382 Karma: 113956855 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NSW - Australia Device: iOS	It seems best practice is to have a different ISBN for each edition. Paperback, hardcover, epub, pdf, mobi etc. Some around here don't agree but if you need to track sales by kind or if a library/store/customer needs to order by kind, there needs to be a way to differentiate.

04-07-2011, 07:45 AM	#3
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Yup, Wannabe: 'Fraid I'm one to disagree. Early on, each ebook edition required a separate ISBN, but that was a money-spinning ploy by the ISBN agencies (don't forget they're commercial). It would cost even a small indie like my own with 120 titles in paperback and three ebook editions at any given time a bundle. We'd be going through ISBNs, which we buy in batches of 100, like a ferret through a rabit hutch. It was soon dropped and a single ISBN serves for all digital editions now. Thing is that the ISBN is merely a search facility. Once an ebook is identified, the buyer is presented with format options. Separate ISBNs are assigned to hardback and paperback editions of a title to avoid confusion. No such confusion exists when a third ISBN is applied to all ebook formats. Cheers. Neil

04-07-2011, 08:13 AM	#4
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,033 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	A single ISBN referrs to the digital editions of a single book? One ISBN referrs to all digital editions of all books?

04-07-2011, 09:40 AM	#5
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	I believe a single ISBN refers to all digital formats of a single edition of each book. If a book is revised (except for fixing typos and format errors) it should get a new ISBN, I think.

04-07-2011, 12:59 PM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Surely it makes sense to have different ISBNs for the different formats of an eBook, just as it does for paper books? Would you not want to separate ePub and Kindle versions of an eBook, just as you'd separate hardback and paperback editions of a paper book?

04-07-2011, 02:41 PM	#9
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	It's absolutely unnecessary for ebooks, Harry, because once a browser has identified his target ebook title, he has a choice of format download at his fingertips. With the greatest respect (and you know I mean that), you're putting forward the same flimsy argument that the commercial ISBN agencies tries to con us all with. There is NO need for separate ISBNs for individual ebook editions. Best wishes. Neil

04-07-2011, 06:53 PM	#10
wannabee Media Bloke Posts: 2,382 Karma: 113956855 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NSW - Australia Device: iOS	Well that's 44 ISBNs I can save for my employer straight away. Although we've already bought them. Ever heard of selling unused ISBNs?

04-07-2011, 10:12 PM	#11
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	You could just publish some more ebooks

04-08-2011, 07:35 AM	#14
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,338 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	Well, as a buyer, the only time I needed to look at ISBN, was to differentiate the US and UK editions.