Struggle of Obtaining ISBN in India: Red Tape Hurting Independent Authors
Independent authors in India face bureaucratic hurdles, restrictive requirements, and privacy concerns when obtaining ISBNs. This red tape is pushing many towards international publishing platforms instead of supporting local publishing.
For independent authors and book publishers in India, navigating the publishing landscape presents a unique set of challenges. While the dream of sharing stories and knowledge is universal, the path to officially publishing a book in India is often paved with bureaucratic hurdles, particularly when it comes to obtaining the essential International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
This article delves into the struggles faced by independent creators in India attempting to secure ISBNs, revealing a system that, while perhaps intended to regulate, may inadvertently stifle creativity and limit opportunities.
Account Creation Catch-22: GST for Publishers
One of the first obstacles arises right at the account creation stage with the Indian ISBN agency, the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN (RRRNA). Aspiring publishers are presented with two account types: “Book Publisher” and “Self Publisher (Author).” While seemingly straightforward, the “Book Publisher” route immediately erects a significant barrier for smaller players. To register as a book publisher, a Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration number is mandatory.
The GST Hurdle: Revenue Threshold
However, this is where the catch-22 lies: Indian regulations typically require businesses to have an annual turnover of 40 lakhs rupees (approximately $50,000 USD) to qualify for GST registration. This effectively locks out fledgling publishing companies and smaller presses, hindering their ability to obtain ISBNs through the “Book Publisher” account.
The Self-Publisher Maze: Oaths and Restrictions
For many independent creators, the “Self Publisher (Author)” account appears to be the only viable path. However, this route is not without its own set of intricate and often restrictive requirements. The process begins with the standard necessities: government-issued ID, a phone number for OTP verification at each login, and an email address. But beyond these typical security measures lie a series of “oaths” that authors must digitally sign, binding them to regulations that are both vague and difficult to enforce, raising questions about their practicality and impact.
Oath 1: The Metadata Lock-in
The first oath dictates that “You can’t use ISBN to publish other than it’s applied for.” While the intention to maintain accurate book metadata is understandable, the practical implications are rigid and author-unfriendly. At the time of ISBN application, authors must submit book information and even a title verso page. This pre-publication information lock-in is problematic because the ISBN process itself can take a minimum of 14 days in India.
14-Day Freeze: No Changes Allowed
During this waiting period, authors are essentially prevented from making any changes to their book title, format, or other details – changes that are often a natural part of the final stages of manuscript refinement and pre-publication preparation. This contrasts sharply with international ISBN systems, particularly in commercialized markets like the US, where publishers can obtain ISBNs simply by registering an imprint name. Book-specific information is only required closer to the actual publication date, allowing for crucial flexibility in the creative and publishing process.
Oath 2: Print in India Mandate
The second oath mandates, “You must publish your book from India (print in India).” This regulation, ostensibly aimed at bolstering the Indian economy, presents significant challenges in today’s globalized publishing landscape.
POD Limitations and Global Reach
For self-publishers, this often necessitates using print-on-demand (POD) services. However, India faces a shortage of robust and internationally competitive POD options. Authors aiming for a global readership are forced into a convoluted and often costly process: printing books in India and then shipping them internationally. This is particularly disadvantageous when compared to popular global POD platforms like IngramSpark and Amazon KDP, which, notably, do not have print facilities in India. This “print in India” rule pushes authors towards less efficient and more expensive routes, hindering their ability to compete in the global book market.
Oath 3: Legal Name as Imprint - No Pen Names
The third oath stipulates, “You must use your imprint name, in case of self-publisher use your personal name.” Coupled with the requirement to provide government-issued ID and address proof during account creation, this oath effectively forces self-publishing authors to use their legal name as their publishing imprint. Pen names or pseudonyms, common practice for many authors, are essentially disallowed.
Privacy and Branding Concerns
The system, tied to personal ID verification, fails to accommodate authors who wish to write under different names or in different genres. Furthermore, the imprint name must be unique, acting as a publisher identifier. This rigidity creates a major hurdle for authors seeking to maintain privacy or build a distinct authorial brand separate from their legal identity.
A Different ISBN Philosophy: Legal ID vs. Identifier
These oaths and regulations stem from a fundamentally different understanding of the ISBN itself within the Indian system. Unlike international norms where an ISBN is viewed as a simple identifier for a book, the RRRNA defines it as a “legal identification number.” This legalistic interpretation appears to be the root cause of the tight control and bureaucratic processes.
ISBN as “Membership ID” and Government Property
This is further reinforced by the RRRNA’s perception of ISBNs as “membership IDs” for books, evidenced by the requirement for extensive book information at multiple stages and the confusing option to “cancel” an ISBN even after allocation – a practice rarely seen in other systems where ISBNs, once assigned, are considered the property of the publisher. Adding to the woes, the Indian ISBN agency seemingly treats ISBNs as property of the Indian government, even after they are issued to publishers.
Privacy Risks and Security Lapses
Beyond the bureaucratic hurdles and restrictive oaths, privacy concerns loom large. The RRRNA contributes author and publisher information, including personal details like names, phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses, to the publicly accessible Global Register of Publishers Database. While intended to be a global resource, this database becomes a potential privacy risk, a readily available source of personal information for spammers and potentially malicious actors.
Publicly Available Personal Data
Furthermore, anecdotal evidence suggests lax security practices within the RRRNA’s own systems, with reports of unencrypted and easily accessible URLs for uploaded ID documents, raising serious questions about data protection.
The International Appeal: US ISBNs as an Escape Route
Faced with these struggles, many Indian authors are understandably seeking workarounds. For authors prioritizing global reach or wishing to use pen names, the Indian ISBN system becomes impractical. The readily available and often free ISBNs offered by international self-publishing platforms like IngramSpark and Amazon KDP, often US-based, become increasingly attractive.
Inadvertent Shift to US Publishing Ecosystem
By opting for these platforms and US-based ISBNs, Indian authors, in a way, inadvertently become part of the US publishing ecosystem, potentially diverting attention and revenue away from the Indian publishing industry.
Conclusion: Time for ISBN Reform in India
In conclusion, while the intention behind the Indian ISBN system might be to regulate and organize book publishing within the country, the current implementation, characterized by bureaucratic processes, restrictive oaths, a unique and controlling interpretation of ISBNs, and privacy concerns, appears to be creating significant obstacles for independent authors and publishers.
Instead of fostering a thriving and globally connected Indian publishing scene, the system may be inadvertently pushing authors towards international alternatives. A reform of the Indian ISBN system, aligning it with international best practices, recognizing the needs of independent creators, and prioritizing ease of access and publisher autonomy, is crucial to unlock the full potential of Indian authors and ensure a vibrant and globally competitive Indian book publishing industry.
Araix Rand
Book Publicist
Araix Rand is the Founder of Bookllo Publishing, an author, blogger, and photographer. Since 2019, he has been helping authors in self-publishing and marketing their books. Additionally, he writes for various business and marketing blogs.
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