Slide 13 of 23
Notes:
Through CIS, standards have emerged for the introduction of internationally recognised numbering conventions to identify musical works and audiovisual works. Both proposals have been adopted within the International Standards Organisation work programme. Under the proposed timetable they should formally become ISO approved standards by the end of next year. Proposals are well advanced for other category of works, including literary and visual art works, to adopt the ISWC standard at a later date.
The International Standard Work Code is based on the existing ISO standard for numbering sheet music. It has been adapted to meet the requirements for uniquely identifying a work as a string of textual data within a computerised database.
The International Standard audiovisual Number will be applied to uniquely identify audio visual works such as films, TV programmes and videos.
Where possible, existing numbering conventions are to be adopted for use within CIS such as the ISRC for sound recordings and the CAE number for composers, authors and publishers. The CAE number will form the cornerstone of the Interested Party Information file as it becomes extended to uniquely identify all types of contributors to the creative process, both as individuals and organisations.
In the future it is planned to introduce a new numbering convention to uniquely identify the contractual relationships between composers and publishers. This will become the numbering system for the Agreements Information File which will provide worldwide ownership data for musical and possibly other types of works.
