The cover page is double-sided. The front side includes the title and author of the book, the name of the publishing company, and the city in which the book is published.
The back side can include several different types of information, depending upon the type of book being published. At a bare minimum, this side of the cover page should include copyright information and ISBN information. As of 2010, all published books must include a 13-digit version of the ISBN number.
If the author has quoted song lyrics or other works, permission and source is acknowledged on the back of the cover page in this format:
Someone Else's Work on page 10 by Other Author is (c) 1980 Other Publisher and is used with permission.
The cover artist or photographer is usually credited on the cover page as well.
Some fiction books include a disclaimer on the cover page to the effect that the characters and story are made up.
The title is usually centered halfway down the front side of the cover page. The author's name is centered underneath it. Information about the publishing company and location are centered on the bottom of the page.
There is no set order on the back side; what is placed where is usually left up to the discretion of the publisher. If there is a disclaimer, it usually is placed either at the top or bottom of the page. The copyright information usually comes next, followed by the ISBN information and any credits or acknowledgment of permission to use someone else's work in the text.
There are not many differences between the cover page for a fiction book and a non-fiction book. The major difference is that non-fiction authors often include their academic or other credentials on the title page. For example a book about a medical condition will often be listed as being by "Doctor First Name Last Name" or by "First Name Last Name, PhD." Non-fiction books also do not require a disclaimer, although some books may have a different disclaimer about not being a substitute for medical or legal advice, for example.
The cover page contains important legal information. It confirms copyright information and other legal notices. In the event there is a legal dispute related to the book, attorneys will consult this page when preparing a case.
The cover page also contains contact information for the publishing company, which is valuable information for readers who may want to get in touch with the author.