Metadata & cataloging

Publisher of record

The company or person named as the publisher in a book's ISBN (International Standard Book Number) registration and metadata. That name appears in Books in Print, library records, and retailer listings, and it tells registrars and catalogers who is responsible for the title record.

When you’ll meet it
ISBN registration and listings
Usually handled by
Whoever registered the ISBN: the publisher, or the author using their own ISBNs