International Organization for Standardization Formally Publishes International Standard Text Code Standard

LONDON--(Marketwire - March 19, 2009) - The International ISTC Agency, the official Registration Authority for the International Standard Text Code (ISTC), today announced that the International Organization for Standardization has formally published ISO Standard 21047, which is available now at http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=41603.

The ISTC system provides a means of uniquely and persistently identifying textual works in information systems, and facilitates the exchange of information about such works between publishers, authors and authors associations, collective management organizations, libraries, search engines and others on an international level. The ISTC makes it possible to group products containing the same content, or even in some cases, different content with the same origins, together, optimizing their discoverability in search engines, retail and library cataloging systems.

More information regarding the ISTC standard is available at www.ISTC-International.org, the official web site of the International ISTC Agency.

"The publication of the ISTC brings to an end a long period of development and we can now look forward to the implementation in the U.S. and elsewhere of a standard that should do much to help how books are discovered and retrieved," said Michael Healy, executive director of the Book Industry Study Group. "I hope publishers, booksellers, librarians and our entire industry join together to help make this important standard a success throughout our industry."

"I was involved in the development of ISTC at the very beginning of the ISO process, and have long believed that the 'text' sector needed a standard identifier for the identification of abstract 'works' within the supply chain," commented Mark Bide, executive director of EDItEUR. "The importance of mechanisms to secure the identity of all types of resources for network commerce is becoming increasingly clear. The ISTC has a potentially significant role to play in many different parts of the value chain, from discovery to rights management."

According to Richard Owens, director of the copyright e-commerce, technology and management division for the World Intellectual Property Organization, "Over 12 years ago, the 1996 WIPO Copyright Treaty recognized the importance of protecting digital identifiers under the heading of 'rights management information.' Since then, identifiers like the ISTC have become essential tools for managing copyright across a spectrum of uses, in developed and emerging markets. The ISTC has great potential for building accuracy and reliability in the trading of text materials, and sets a positive example for further development of standard identifiers."

The International ISTC Agency has already received a number of formal expressions of interest from prospective ISTC registration agencies in Europe.

"The expressions of interest we've received to date demonstrate that there is a real demand for the benefits available from using the ISTC standard," says Andy Weissberg, spokesperson for the International ISTC Agency and vice president of identifier services and corporate marketing at Bowker. "Together with participating registration agencies, publishers and authors, we can proceed with confidence toward adopting the ISTC as a global standard for optimizing book discoverability and catalogue management."

About The International ISTC Agency

Officially founded in 2008, The International ISTC Agency is responsible for the promotion, coordination and supervision of the International Standard Text Code (ISTC) standard and system. Bowker, Nielsen, CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) and IFFRO (The International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations) are founding members of the International ISTC Agency.

To participate in ISTC pilot programs, or to learn more about the ISTC standard, in the UK, contact Julian Sowa, Chairman, at +44 (0) 1483 712330 or Julian.Sowa@nielsen.com. US-based inquires should be directed to Andy Weissberg at 908.219.0206 or andy.weissberg@bowker.com. General information about the ISTC can be accessed at www.ISTC-International.org.

About The International Organization for Standardization

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO began operations on 23 February 1947. ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of some 157 countries, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. More than 100 of ISO's members are from developing countries. ISO has more than 17 700 International Standards in its current portfolio. ISO's work program ranges from standards for traditional activities, such as agriculture and construction, through mechanical engineering, manufacturing and distribution, to transport, medical devices, the environment, safety, information and communication technologies, and to standards for good practice and for services. For more information, visit www.iso.org.

Contact Information: General Inquiries: Julian Sowa Chairman +44 (0) 1483 712330