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Publishing guide
ISBN, Copyright, and Author Rights
A plain explanation of ISBN, copyright, and what authors keep when they hire a book publishing service.
Copyright protects the expression in your manuscript as soon as it is created. Registration rules depend on your country and are separate from hiring an editor or a designer.
ISBN
An ISBN identifies a specific edition and format. Hardcover, paperback, and ebook can need separate ISBNs. The imprint name on the ISBN should be a name you control if you are publishing under your own account.
What the service should not take
Production help does not require you to surrender royalties or authorship. If a contract assigns rights, it should say which rights, for how long, and how you can get them back. Creative Tugs is paid for production, and the rights stay with the author unless a separate written deal says otherwise.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Ask a publishing attorney if you are signing rights away.