Overview
ISO/IEC 21000-5:2004/Amd 3:2008 is an amendment to ISO/IEC 21000-5 (MPEG‑21 Part 5: Rights Expression Language - REL) that defines the OAC (Open Access Content) profile and a new multimedia extension (multimedia extension three, namespace urn:mpeg:mpeg21:2006:01-REL-M3X-NS). The amendment adds XML schema elements, attributes and semantics to the REL to support open-access licensing patterns - for example, free use and derivative works with required copyright notices and source‑code/reference obligations.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Multimedia extension three (m3x): introduces new REL right and condition elements under the normative namespace urn:mpeg:mpeg21:2006:01-REL-M3X-NS. Prefix m3x is used in examples.
- New right: m3x:governedAdapt
- Represents the right to adapt a resource.
- Optional attribute @m3x:governanceRule (QName) points to governance rules that determine adaptation constraints (e.g., adapt once).
- If absent, adaptation results in a license for the adapted resource equal to the original license.
- New conditions
- m3x:copyrightNotice - requires showing or inserting copyright information; optional @m3x:noticeType indicates how to present the notice (e.g., show before exercise).
- m3x:nonCommercialUse - signals non‑commercial use; optional @m3x:noticeType for presentation rules.
- m3x:sourceCode - requires that adapted works include the original resource or a pointer to it (source or accessible location).
- OAC profile restrictions
- An r:license is limited to r:grant and r:issuer elements.
- Supported principals: r:keyHolder, m1x:identityHolder.
- Supported rights: mx:adapt, mx:execute, mx:play, mx:print, m1x:governedCopy, m3x:governedAdapt.
- Supported resources: r:nonSecureIndirect and r:secureIndirect references; supports r:allConditions containing sx:territory, m3x conditions, etc.
- Profile compliance: indicated via @sx:profileCompliance and values referencing the REL multimedia extension namespace.
- Security and binding: r:issuer may include dsig:Signature and r:keyHolder (dsig:KeyInfoType) to bind license to issuer and content (secureIndirect can include a hash).
Practical applications
- Implementing machine‑readable open‑access licenses for digital publishing, news, academic repositories and multimedia platforms.
- Enabling interoperable rights expressions for content distribution systems and lightweight DRM that allow adaptation and derivative works while enforcing notices and source‑linking.
- Integrating with content ingestion pipelines, rendering applications, and rights‑management services to automatically enforce license conditions (show copyright, restrict commercial use, include source references).
Who would use this standard
- Standards implementers, DRM and content‑platform engineers, digital library architects, publishers, repository managers, and software developers building REL-aware applications or metadata processors that require consistent, interoperable open‑access licensing behavior.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 21000 (MPEG‑21) family - Part 5: Rights Expression Language (REL).
- XML Digital Signature and XML Encryption (used for dsig and xenc bindings referenced in the amendment).
Open preview (PDF)Information technology — Multimedia framework (MPEG-21) — Part 5: Rights Expression Language — Amendment 3: OAC (Open Access Content) profile
