The title is a reference to the Xerox . Whereas Xerox machines are used to make paper copies of documents and other visual images, it is used as a metaphor for plagiarism in the song's lyrics (example: I'm never bored, I'll steal your chords).

The title also reference's David Bowie's description of himself as "a human Xerox Machine". On some early versions of the song, Ant can be heard singing "David Bowie's a Xerox machine" on the coda. In one such version, a demo recorded August 1978 at Decca's Broadhurst Gardens studio, this line is sung in a similar high pitched tone to that employed on Bowie's early single "The Laughing Gnome".

The song was an early favourite among "Antpeople," and was performed at a John Peel session on 10 July 1978. Adam and the Ants signed with Camden based independent record label Do It Records after leaving Decca Records. Do It had the band in the studio almost immediately after signing, with "Zerox" being the result.

The band had developed a strong cult following and embarked on a major UK tour prior to the single's release on 6 July 1979. Do It, meanwhile, did a series of UK music press advertisements. It was the band's second single, and the first to be supported by a music video.

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