About OSBN

"The OSBN is a unique identifier, intended to simplify the distribution and purchase of books."

The world of literature is a unique art form but these days it's one where visibility comes at a price. The conventional isbn system, once designed to facilitate book identification and distribution, now stands as a barrier to entry for many independent authors. It's disheartening to witness a system that was ostensibly intended to support the literary arts become a financial and bureaucratic obstacle to the very artists themselves.

The legacy International Standard Book Numbering (isbn) system has been co-opted for the sake of profit. It exists now at the expense of creators solely for the convenience of publishers and retailers. These days, authors are essentially financing the inventory control systems of publishers and retailers.

  • An isbn costs over $100 USD in the USA. Incredibly, at the moment there is an additional $60 USD charge for the accompanying barcode that could easily be created at no cost with the right software, software which apparently is not available in the USA.
  • The system in France is unecessarily bureaucratic. The the author must expose extensive personal and fiscal details for the French to evaluate, and they also require that you deposit two physical copies of your book into their archives, which only adds to the 40 euro (at present) cost.
  • The system at Library and Archives Canada has arbitrary residence and citizenship requirements. Authors can be Canadian and write a book about Canada, but unless they are physically standing in Canada when they make their application, they will be declined.
  • Spain's system costs 45 euros at present and you must provide them with a scan of your ID. So much for preserving the anonymity of your pseudonym.
  • Other countries may do better ...

You don't need an ID number to sell your painting or sculpture. There is no standard paid-for-by-the-artist barcode number for music, so why for books? No other art form has the same financial barrier to entry that books have. The isbn system has become corrupted. And it needs to change.

Enter the OPEN Standard Book Number. The OSBN is our commitment to the democratization of literature and the empowerment of authors, enabling them to share their creative works with a global audience without undue financial burdens or complex requirements. The OSBN allows authors to maintain their independence and provides accessibility in the world of literature.

"making literature truly accessible to all"

The OSBN is a simple yet innovative approach to book identification and distribution. Here are some of the reasons why we've developed the OSBN and why we believe it's a game-changer :

  1. Accessibility: The OSBN is accessible to authors from all corners of the globe, without the barriers that the traditional isbn system presents. Authors can apply for an OSBN from anywhere in the world, for anywhere in the world, at nominal cost for free during the beta period, putting the power of book identification back into the hands of authors and creators.
  2. Freedom of Choice: With the OSBN, authors have the freedom to choose their own country code for their books, and each book can have a different country code if desired. This allows the author to tailor their books to their unique identity, intention and desired presence.
    Whether they're a German author in Colombia, an American writer in an American state like Oregon or Canada, or an itinerant wordsmith with no fixed abode, the OSBN accommodates this.
  3. Digital Integration: Each OSBN comes with both a QR code and a code-128 barcode, simplifying and making affordable the process of digital book distribution and marketing.
  4. Privacy: Creating an account and applying for an OSBN requires little more than a working email address, because we feel that your our personal and financial details are your business and no one else's. This makes an OSBN perfect for those writing under a pseudonym / pen-name.
  5. Extra Details: You can choose to reveal extra details about youself and your book in your OSBN record, optionally far more than the equivalent isbn lookup would reveal. If you wish, a user looking up your OSBN record can see your cover art, contact information, multiple different purchase links, and/or links to social accounts and review sites or other information you choose, in essence putting authors together with readers and eliminating the middle-man. An OSBN lookup will even reveal your isbn, if you choose to show it.
    And best of all, you can login and update your OSBN record with new information whenever you wish.

Every author deserves the chance to be visible and to share their creativity with the world, without the burden of cost or complex requirements. The OSBN system is a nod to the spirit of creativity, independence, and accessibility that all authors hold dear. By using this system, the hope is that we can support even more fellow writers, artists, and storytellers in their journey to reach a global audience.

Thank you for joining us on this journey, embracing the OSBN system and joining us in our mission to make literature truly accessible to all.

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