International Standard Audiovisual Number

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International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN) is a unique identifier for audiovisual works and related versions, similar to ISBN for books. It was developped within an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) TC46/SC9 working group. ISAN is managed and run by ISAN-IA.

The ISAN standard (ISO standard 15706:2002 & ISO 15706-2) is recommended or required as the audiovisual identifier of choice for producers, studios, broadcasters, Internet media providers and video games publishers who need to encode, track, and distribute video in a variety of formats. It provides a unique, internationally recognized and permanent reference number for each audiovisual work and related versions registered in the ISAN system.

ISAN identifies works throughout their entire life cycle from conception, to production, to distribution and consumption. Its core strength lies in its universal benefits and long-term stability.

ISANs can be incorporated in both digital and physical media, such as theatrical release prints, DVDs, publications, advertising, marketing materials and packaging, as well as licensing contracts to uniquely identify works.

The ISAN identifier is incorporated in many draft and final standards such as AACS, DCI, MPEG, DVB, and ATSC.

[edit] Number format

The ISAN is a 96-bit number comprised of three segments: a root, an episode or part, and a version.

A root is assigned to a core work. Subsequent film parts or television episodes that relate to the root work can have the same root, but a different 'episode or part' component (if a core work does not have associated parts or episodes, then the episode segment is filled with zeros). Works (and their episodes or parts) that have been modified in some way — for example, dubbing, and subtitling the work into other languages — can have different versions. When the 96-bit ISAN is represented in hexadecimal form it has 24 digits, for example: 000000018947000000000000.

However, a printed ISAN designed for human reading always begins with the ISAN label, appears with hyphens to separate the number into more manageable groups of digits, and adds tow check characters (made up of the letters A–Z) to help identify transcription errors. The resulting number appears as: ISAN 0000-0001-8947-0000-8-0000-0000-D

ISAN-IA has also developed a recommended practice for encoding the ISAN in a two-dimensional barcode 96 pixels square.

An ISAN is a centrally registered and permanently assigned reference number. The work or content it references is identified by a metadata set registered with ISAN-IA. Appointed Registration Agencies and ISAN-IA work together to prevent duplicate assignments of ISANs with the same metadata set. The ISAN metadata set includes the title (original and alternative), cast (director, actors, producer, screenwriter, etc...), type of works (movie, documentary, TV series or entertainment show, sport events, video games, etc...), duration, year of production and dozens of other fields related to the work. This metadata applies to all type of audiovisual works, including their related versions of trailers, excerpts, videos and broadcasts.

[edit] ISAN-IA

ISAN-IA (ISAN International Agency) is a Geneva-based non-profit association, founded in 2003, by AGICOA, CISAC, and FIAPFto run the ISAN standard.

ISAN-IA is in charge of:

• maintaining the ISAN central repository
• implementing, running and managing the ISAN system
• accrediting and appointing the ISAN registration agencies worldwide
• promoting with the help of the registration agencies, the ISAN standard to the audiovisual industry.

[edit] External links

• ISAN International Agency (ISAN-IA)
• ISAN Berne, registration agency
• AF ISAN, French registration agency
• ARIBSAN, Spain registration agency
• Australia registration agency
• USA Hollywood based registration agency
• USA registration agency

Audiovisual works
standard	registration authority
ISO 2108 International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
ISO 3297 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
ISO 15706 International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN)	ISAN-IA by ISO
ISO 15707 International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC)	CISAC
ISO 10957 International Standard Music Number (ISMN)
ISO 3901 International Standard Recording Code (ISRC)	IFPI by ISO
DIS 21047 International Standard Text Code (ISTC)
Project 27729 International Standard Party Identifier (ISPI)
CAE/IPI	SUISA by CISAC
related topics
Performance rights organisation	BIEM