Internet will rely on the Domain Name System as defined in RFCs 3401 3405. Each

namespace will have its own resolution mechanism, which is to be defined in the RFC in

which a namespace is registered to the identifier system. 

URN syntax has been defined in such a way that Web browsers could use them instead of

URLs. Unfortunately, at present the browsers support URNs only with the help of plug ins.

This has enabled URN implementation in various small environments (e.g., German

dissertations) that may or may not be interoperable with one another.   

For further information:

NID assignments: http://www.iana.org/assignments/urn namespaces

URN clearing house: http://www.uri.net/

13.4 ISAN and V ISAN

ISAN 

  International Standard Audiovisual Number

The ISAN identifies an audiovisual work 

 i.e., any work consisting of a moving image

with or without accompanying sound, and independent of the physical form in which that

work is distributed. The ISAN is not intended to be applied to still images, sound

recordings, or other forms of content without significant audiovisual components. The

assignment of an ISAN is not related to any process of copyright registration, nor does an

ISAN provide evidence of the ownership of rights in an audiovisual work. The ISAN makes

it possible for all rights holders (authors, producers, and their agents) to identify an

audiovisual work, independent of its physical form.

An ISAN consists of 16 hexadecimal digits divided into two segments: a 12 digit root

segment followed by a 4 digit segment for episodes.  Zeros are used as fill characters

when the work is not an episode. The prefix ISAN and a final check character are included

whenever an ISAN is presented in human readable form.  

Example:  ISAN 1881 66C7 3420 6541 9

The ISAN is an International Standard (ISO 15706:2002).  

The Registration Authority for ISAN is:

ISAN International Agency

26, rue de Saint Jean

CH 1203 Geneva

Switzerland

Tel: (+41) 22 545 10 00

Fax: (+41) 22 545 10 40

E mail: 

info@isan.org

URL: 

http://www.isan.org

V ISAN   

International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN)   Version identifier

A V ISAN identifies a specific version of an audiovisual work 

 or other content related to

an audiovisual work 

 throughout its life. A V ISAN is the combination of an International

Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN), as defined in ISO 15706, with an appended version

segment.

The V ISAN is intended for use wherever precise and unique identification of a specific

version of an audiovisual work   or other content related to an audiovisual work   is

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