ISO 15707:2001

Information and documentation — International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC)

Scope

This International Standard specifies a means of uniquely identifying a musical work. It standardizes and promotes
internationally the use of a standard identification code so that musical works can be uniquely distinguished from
one another within computer databases and related documentation and for the purposes of collecting societies
involved in the administration of rights to such works.
The International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC) identifies musical works as intangible creations. It is not
used to identify manifestations of or objects related to a musical work. Such manifestations and objects are the
subject of separate identification systems, such as the International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) for sound
recordings, the International Standard Music Number (ISMN) for printed music, and the International Standard
Audiovisual Number (ISAN) for audiovisual works.
Guidelines for the use of ISWC are given in normative annex A.