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5.1. General
A separate ISBN must be assigned
to every title, or edition of a title by each publisher, but NOT to an
unchanged impression or unchanged reprint of the same title in the same
format by the same publisher. Revised editions require a new ISBN. A
price change does not call for a new ISBN. Changes of the format induce
a new ISBN. The same title being published in a series and individually
is treated as two different editions.
5.2.
Facsimile reprints
A separate ISBN must be assigned
to a facsimile reprint produced by a different publisher.
5.3.
Books in different format
A separate ISBN must be assigned
to the different formats in which a particular title is published i.e. paper,
cloth, braille, microfilm, microcomputer software of the same title, each
receive a separate ISBN.
5.4.
Loose-leaf publications
If a publication appears in
loose-leaf form an ISBN is assigned to identify an edition at a given
time. Individual issues of additions or replacement sheets will also be
given an ISBN, when they are separately stocked.
5.5.
Multi-volume works
An ISBN must be assigned to
the whole set of volumes of a multi-volume work; also, if individual volumes
of the set are sold separately, each volume must be assigned
its own ISBN. Thus the individual processing and sale of single volumes
will be possible. Even when multi-volume works are only sold as a set,
the assignment of ISBN to each volume is advisable: It facilitates
the handling of returns (damaged volumes) or the processing of shipments
when not all volumes are published or distributed at the same time.
5.6.
Backlist
A publisher is required to
number all backlist publications and publish the ISBNs in catalogues.
The ISBN must also be printed in the first available reprint of a backlist
title.
5.7.
Collaborative publications
A publication issued as a
co-edition or joint imprint with other publishers is assigned an ISBN
by the publisher in charge of distribution. Other co-publishers may assign
their ISBNs if they want to.
5.8.
Books sold or distributed by agents
(Except for a) this applies only
to countries that do not yet participate in the system)
- As the ISBN standard states,
a particular edition, published by a particular publisher, receives
only one ISBN. This ISBN must be retained no matter where, or by whom,
the book is distributed or sold.
- A book imported by an exclusive
distributor or sole agent from an area not in the ISBN system and which
has no ISBNs assigned, may be assigned an ISBN by the exclusive distributor.
- Books imported by an exclusive
distributor or sole agent to which a new title page, bearing the imprint
of the exclusive distributor, has been added in place of the title page
of the original publisher, are to be given a new ISBN by the exclusive
distributor or sole agent. The ISBN of the original publisher should
also be given.
- A book imported by several
distributors from an area not in the ISBN system and which has no ISBNs
assigned, may be assigned an ISBN by the group agency responsible for
those distributors.
5.9.
Acquisition of one publisher by another
A publisher acquiring another
publishing house must continue to use that originally assigned ISBN until
the book is reprinted under the new company imprint.
5.10.
Acquisition of complete stock of a publisher
A publisher acquiring the complete
stock of another company must use that original publisher's assigned ISBN
until the new company reprints under its own imprint.
5.11.
Publishers with more than one place of publication
- A publisher operating
in several places which are listed together in the imprint of the book
will assign only one ISBN to the book.
- A publisher operating separate
and distinct offices or branches in different places may have a publisher
prefix for each office or branch. However, each book published is to
be assigned only one ISBN, to be made by the office or branch responsible
for publication.
5.12.
Register of ISBN
It is the responsibility of all
publishers to inform their group agency or the organisation responsible
for the maintenance of title registration of the ISBNs that have been assigned
to published and forthcoming books. When the publisher does not take this
responsibility, group agency or organisation responsible for the maintenance
of the title registration is authorized to maintain the ISBN register of
this publisher at its own initiative.
5.13.
ISBN can never be re-used
An ISBN, once assigned, can NEVER
be re-used, under any circumstances. This is of the utmost importance to
avoid confusion.
If, through a clerical error, a number is incorrectly assigned, the number
must be deleted from the list of useable numbers and must never be assigned
to another title.
Publishers should advise the group agency of the number(s) deleted and of
the titles to which they were erroneously assigned.
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