1 Introduction

This standard was developed by the member organisations of the Digital Data Exchange, LLC (DDEX) and provides a suite of messages that give a uniform mechanism for companies such as Record Companies, Digital and Mobile Service Providers (DSPs) and others to request a licence for a Musical Work (or Right Shares thereof) from owners (or agents of owners) of such Work or Right Shares and for the owners (or agents) to provide licences (or rejections) back. This standard can also be used to communicate “intentions to use” to owners (or agents of owners) in the context of controlled composition clauses or where statutory licences are in place and for such owners (or agents of owners) to acknowledge such an intention to use. Finally, this standard provides a mechanism to revoke existing licences.

While this standard can be used by any company as outlined above, it was specifically designed to address to requirements of the US market.

Any organisation wishing to implement this (or any other DDEX Standard) is required to apply for an Implementation Licence. The terms of the licence and an application form can be found here and here.

This standard was developed by the member organisations of the Digital Data Exchange, LLC (DDEX) and provides a suite of messages that give a uniform mechanism to enable Release Creators (usually record companies) to inform DSPs about Releases — whether they are newly created or “back catalogue” — that are available for distribution to consumers.

This standard also enables Release Creators to inform DSPs in a standardised way the terms and conditions under which such Releases can be made available.