And, why does Bowker have the monopoly on them?
It can take a long time to suss out reality from fiction, or even worse – manipulative practices, in nearly every aspect of our lives here in 2025.
This time I’m circling back to ISBN numbers. I was listening to a Canadian podcaster yesterday and she said ISBN numbers in Canada are free. Free?!
According to my “Search Assistant”ISBN numbers are free in Canada because the Canadian government provides them through Library and Archives Canada to eligible publishers, making it easier for them to sell and distribute their books. This support aims to promote the publishing industry and ensure that Canadian publications are properly identified and accessible.”
As I understand it, and I’d love to hear from an attorney or someone who really understands how this all works, if you use a big online publisher like KDP, B&N, etc., you are assigned one of their ISBN numbers. If you move your publication from one place to another, i.e. from KDP to B&N, then you cannot use the same KDP ISBN, you’ll be assigned a new one by B&N. This is assuming the book is not a 2nd edition; new editions and formats always get a new ISBN. These huge publishers buy blocks of tens of thousands of ISBNs extremely inexpensively. $1? Perhaps.
Who is the sole provider of these ISBNs in the USA? Bowker Publishing Services.
Check out Bowker home page and see how they market themselves. It’s no wonder Indy authors are confused about what is in their best interests. Also check out their cartoon video on YouTube:
When was the last time you searched ISBN for a book? Does your library? Does your local bookstore? In that cute little video they’re implying that getting yourself ISBNs will extend your reach. But does it really? And also in that video, they’re showing five versions of your book. Bowker will sell you 10 ISBNs for $295. What a deal. Remember, they are free in Canada and many other countries.
How did Bowker get this monopoly? I’ll start with today and work my way back in time to try and find out.
Who owns Bowker?
More from wikipedia:
Cambridge Information Group (CIG) is a privately held, family-owned global investment firm focusing on information services, education and technology.
The company is led by CEO Andy Snyder.
From cig.com
Cambridge bought R. R. Bowker in 2001. Bowker raised the price of ISBNs in 2014 from $250 to $295.
You are the one who creates all the information in their registration db. They also offer you additional services because that’s what all businesses do these days: Up-selling is king! 10 ISBNs, 5 Barcodes, and 1 QRPlus Code – $395! woohoo! Wait, where is my copyright?
Do I even need their barcodes and copyrights? One copyright is $90. One copyright and one ISBN bundle is $190. Two copyrights and 10 ISBNs are $425 – you save $50! I can’t afford $425 for one version of my book. Can you?
What about Canada, do they pay to copyright? “Yes, there is a fee to register a copyright for your book in Canada, which is currently $63 if submitted online. However, copyright protection is automatic as soon as you create your work, so registration is not mandatory.”
Wait, is a copyright necessary in the USA? Well, according to the Bowker website:
Sort-of…
From https://www.copyright.gov/engage/writers/
“Second, you should know that copyright protection exists from the moment an original work is “fixed” in a tangible medium. For writers, fixation occurs when your ideas are written down on paper or typed using a computer, for example. You don’t need to do anything else for your work to be protected by copyright.
Registering Your Work
Although your work is protected by copyright from the moment it is fixed, the U.S. Copyright Office recommends registering your work with us to create a public record of your ownership and for additional legal benefits like the ability to bring an infringement claim for U.S. works in either federal court or with the Copyright Claims Board (discussed below). Applying for registration with the U.S. Copyright Office requires an application, a filing fee, and a copy of the work (which the Office calls a “deposit”).”
The litigiousness in the USA is rampant as is all sorts of theft and fuckery. So, perhaps you should. So, if you do, how much does it cost?
“Registering your book through the U.S. Copyright Office’s online portal costs $55 for most applications, while a paper submission costs $85. Using the online application is generally recommended for both cost and efficiency.”
Comparing like to like (online, single author, one work) .gov is $45 and Bowker is $95. See https://www.copyright.gov/about/fees.html for details.
Enough of that. Let’s time travel.
From this R. R. Bowker timeline I learned that 1872 is when R. R. Bowker began work at Frederick Leypoldt’s Publishers Weekly®. It carried on until 1968, when Bowker became the U. S. ISBN Agency. Bowker was already owned by Xerox who had acquired it a year earlier, in 1967.
My search assistant providing the following:
In 1968, Bowker became the official U.S. ISBN Agency as part of a pivotal moment in publishing history. Here’s how it unfolded:
📇 ISBN Origins: The ISBN system was first developed in the UK in 1967 by David Whitaker and Gordon Foster to standardize book identification. It was quickly recognized as a valuable tool for global publishing.
🇺🇸 U.S. Adoption: In 1968, Emery Koltay—who later became director of the U.S. ISBN Agency—helped adapt the system for American use. Bowker, already a major bibliographic data provider, was selected to administer ISBNs in the U.S. due to its established role in cataloging and publishing metadata2.
Why Bowker?: Bowker had deep roots in publishing, dating back to the 19th century, and was already producing Books in Print—a comprehensive bibliographic reference. Its infrastructure and industry trust made it the natural choice to manage ISBNs nationally.
The above information is slightly incorrect because Emery Koltay became director of the US ISBN Agency at R. R. Bowker in 1968. So “who later became director” is a bit misleading.
💼 Career Advancement: By aligning with Bowker (then owned by Xerox), Koltay secured a stable and influential role in shaping metadata standards. His work helped Bowker become the official ISBN agency for both the U.S. and Australia.
🌍 Legacy Impact: Koltay’s contribution wasn’t measured in financial reward but in the enduring influence he had on global publishing. His efforts brought order to a chaotic industry, and his legacy lives on every time a book is cataloged or sold using an ISBN.
So the whole thing started in the UK. Are ISBNs free there?
In England, a single ISBN costs £93, while a block of 10 ISBNs is priced at £174. The cost decreases with larger quantities, with 100 ISBNs costing £387 and 1000 ISBNs priced at £994.
As of this moment, £93 equals $124.19 USD.
In my opinion, this is a library, registry type of service that should be controlled by a non-profit organization, not a business making profits off the backs of artists, content creators, etc.
This has reminded me of the ICANN project. Back in the day when the web was starting – ICANN controlled the ip (web url) addresses. Those were wild days. Check their story out here: https://www.icann.org/en/history/about-history-project
Meanwhile, back at my ranch (don’t I wish), I want independence. I want as much control over my work as I can get. So, Yes. I’ll buy a block of 10 ISBNs and now I have a tiny understanding of why it is the way it is.