How to Get an ISBN Code in Brazil
An ISBN code is basically the registration of a book's title and edition, making it possible to identify that volume internationally. This article will present the necessary procedures to get a code in Brazil.
Overview
The International Standard Book Number, known as ISBN, is an international system to identify books, software, or other documents by a number to make it easier to commercialize and to identify certain products. It was created in 1967 by British editors and was adopted as a global standard in 1972.
New editions of certain publications must also receive a new ISBN code. Also, if a book or text is translated to another language, a new code is required.
Since 2007, the ISBN code has been composed by 13 numerical digits. It is usually located next to a barcode placed on the book’s cover or back. Some of the products that receive an ISBN code are:
- Printed material, including books, articles, guides, speeches and maps with scale
- Audiobooks
- Educational materials published electronically or recorded in CDs, for example
- Braille texts
- Public reports
Among the materials that do not receive an ISBN code are:
- Annals of an institution
- Handouts
- Music CDs
- Documentaries
- Magazines, newspapers and periodicals in general
Acquiring an Editor Registration
The first step needed to obtain an ISBN code is to register as an editor. This can be done by filling an online form available at the ISBN website. As an alternative, companies may print it and send it to the Brazilian ISBN Agency, along with a copy of its CNPJ, which is the company’s identification number. A form requiring a code, filled with the product information, is also needed.
The Brazilian ISBN agency address is Rua Debret, 23, sala 803/Centro - Rio de Janeiro/RJ - CEP 20030-080.
Individuals might also register, as long as the one in charge of it is also the book’s author. The procedure is quite similar. If registration by mail is chosen, a copy of the author’s CPF, which is the Individual Taxpayer Registry, is needed.
Both methods require the payment of a registration fee. The price for an editor registry is currently set at BRL 220. If online registration is chosen, this payment may only be done via boleto bancário. If mail registration is chosen, this can be done via bank transfer or bank deposit. Payments by check or cash are not accepted.
Requiring an ISBN Code
After the registration is done, an ISBN code might be required by filling a form, which can be done either online or in a printed document sent via mail for the Brazilian agency. A “folha de rosto”, or title page, must be sent, too. It must contain the book's title, author’s name, place of publication, editor’s name and the year that the book is actually going to be published.
A fee currently set at BRL 15 is charged for an ISBN code. Another BRL 25 is charged for the barcode image used on the book’s cover by publishers.
It is important to highlight that the Brazilian agency might require a copy of the publication’s first 25 pages at any point. This might be needed to analyze if the material's content can be considered relevant and, consequently, able to receive an ISBN code.