DDEX FAQs

What is DDEX?

DDEX was set up to develop a single set of standard XML messages for the business-to-business communication of information between organisations operating in the digital content supply chain.

Companies involved in the business of providing digital content services have to exchange significant amounts of data. Over the past few years, these services have become increasingly complex, providing more diverse offerings to consumers, with more companies involved in the supply chain all dealing with massive increases in transaction volumes. The businesses involved in the provision of these services therefore need to adopt standard message formats in relation to the exchange of information in order to simplify vital business processes for the future.

In the current environment the exchange of data between individual partners is still carried out largely using various proprietary message formats. For example, this means non-standard data about music files is going from record labels to digital service providers and non-standard sales reports coming from these partners back to record labels and music rights societies. Attempting to accommodate all these different message formats increases complexity for all involved leading to increased risk of errors and increased effort in processing.

The standards that DDEX is developing will go a long way to tackling this problem.

Why is this so important?

A key driver for success within the digital content business is the smooth flow of information between parties. There is a very clear cycle of data on which the business is dependent. Service providers need to receive from content owners, detailed information about the content on offer and available for sale; this is key to making digital content available to the consumer. Equally all content and rights owners require that sales be reported back to them; this is key to accounting back to creators.

Once there is widespread use of DDEX standards the use of multiple proprietary message formats with business partners will be a thing of the past and decrease the use of labour intensive manual management and communication of messages. The end result for digital content businesses is faster time to market, improved operational quality and efficiency, improved data quality, reduced transaction management costs, reduced communication costs and reduced development costs.

When was DDEX launched?

DDEX was launched in May 2006 by the major record labels, major music rights societies in the US and Europe and leading digital and mobile music service providers. Therefore its work thus far has focused on developing standard message formats for the communication of data about digital music. This is the first time all these leading players in digital music have agreed to jointly work together to solve these serious multi-industry problems around digital music distribution.

However, it was always the intention that other content types would in time be embraced by the work that DDEX is carrying out.

How is this beneficial to artists, composers and other creators?

Standard message formats can simplify and increase the accuracy of key processes on which artist and composers depend. Digital sales reports are key to driving royalty reporting whilst licensing permissions are key to ensuring that repertoire is made available for sale in as many places as rights permit.

How is this beneficial to the consumer?

DDEX standards are purely for use in business-to-business exchange of data. However, the use of standard message formats can speed up and simplify the communication of data and reduce systems development whilst offering the prospect of a more automated technical environment. Over time it will increase the accuracy of data involved in making content available for sale by digital service providers to consumers. This will improve the digital supply chain process that will enable better quality information to reach the end consumer and may facilitate more content being made available for sale. By having one set of standard message formats to implement, that's one less problem to worry, about leaving more time to devote to the consumer experience!

Who can join?

Membership of DDEX is open to any entity with an interest in digital media content. There are three levels of membership. Charter Members pay US$ 25,000 per annum for membership, Full Members pay a fee determined by their revenue per year and Associate Members pay US$ 2,500 per year.

Full details can be found here.

What do DDEX members get?

All members of DDEX get the opportunity to review and comment on all DDEX standards before they are made public. Charter and Full members can participate in work prioritisation, requirements gathering, development and drafting of DDEX standards by sending representatives to participate in the technical working groups that specify the standards. Through active participation, members can ensure that the standards formulated will meet their particular transaction and information needs. They will also have the opportunity to influence the direction of the broader standards development effort and gain early mover advantage in carrying out implementations.

Members are required to work in good faith to support the purpose of DDEX, participate in the process in accordance with their level of membership and to adhere to DDEX's intellectual property policy. Members also have to make timely payment of their membership fees!

Who are the current members of DDEX?

The current Charter Members represented on the Board are Sony Music Entertainment, The Orchard, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), The Harry Fox Agency Inc. (HFA), Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), PRS for Music, Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE), Société des Civile des Producteurs Phonographiques (SCPP), Société des des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique (SACEM), Apple Inc., Microgen Aptitude Limited, Nokia, Orange, RealNetworks Inc. and Telefónica Servicos de Música S.A.U.

Since launch, over 40 companies have joined DDEX as Members.

The full list of members can be found here.

Who has implemented the DDEX standards?

Several companies are now exchanging live data using the main profile of the ERN message suite. These include the US mechanical rights society the Harry Fox Agency, the music content companies Sony Music and WMG and the digital music service provider Real Networks.

There are also a number of implementations in progress of both the main and simple profiles of the DSR message suite by companies that include digital music services Apple iTunes, Muzak, SFR and Telefónica Servicos de Música S.A.U. and music rights societies ASCAP, BMI, MCPS-PRS, SACEM, SGAE and SUISA.

A full list of known implementation can be found here.

How does DDEX develop its standards?

The detailed standards development work is carried out in technical Working Groups. The specific subject matter and mandates of each Working Group is established by a Board resolution which will normally specify finite time deadlines. The Board also appoints the Chair of each Working Group which must be a representative of a Charter or Full Member. Any Charter or Full member representative with an interest in subject matter can be a member of a Working Group. The decision making process for the creation of output documents is by consensus. No working group has yet failed to reach a consensual solution but if it were to happen the Board would adjudicate on the issue.

How often does DDEX hold meetings?

Working Groups work primarily through telephone conference calls and e-mail. However, usually once a quarter, DDEX's member representatives meet for three days of intensive work on the standards development. Currently the location of the meetings rotates between cities in Europe and the East and West Coasts of North America.

How long have you been working on DDEX standards?

DDEX has been working on standards and associated supporting documentation since the summer of 2006. In that time several standards have been produced. As these have been tested for implementation further work has been undertaken to improve the structure of the standards and to ensure they meet changing market requirements.

In some cases the current versions of the standards now also have "Simple Profile" versions. DDEX developed these in response to concerns from some organisations within the digital music supply chain that the comprehensive nature of the original standards did not suit all companies, when it comes to implementation.

What are the current DDEX message standards?

Below are descriptions of the current DDEX standards the first five of which have been extensively deployed by companies within DDEX and their business partners.

• Electronic Release Notification Message Suite Standard (Main Profile) Version 3.1.2 which supports the declaration of Releases (and related Deals) for audio and audiovisual Releases, including the provision of cue sheets for such Releases;
• Digital Sales Reporting Message Suite Standard (Main Profile) Version 3.1.2 which supports the provision of sales reports relating to audio and audiovisual Releases, including the provision of cue sheets for such Releases, as well as information regarding the revenue generated from the distribution of such Releases, to the relevant Licensors;
• Electronic Release Notification Message Suite Standard (Simple Profile) Version 1.0.2 is a subset of the Main Profile message suite;
• Digital Sales Reporting Message Suite Standard (Simple Profile) Version 1.1 is a subset of the Main Profile message suite;
• Digital Sales Reporting Message Suite Standard (Flat File Profile) Version 1.0.1 is a flat file version of the DSR Simple Profile and provides an entry-level sales reporting format utilising a flat file syntax instead of XML;
• Message Transfer via FTP Version 1.0 provides a uniform way of transferring DDEX messages using the file transfer protocol FTP;
• Musical Work Licensing Message Suite Standard (Main Profile) Version 1.0 provides a uniform mechanism that can be used for the communication of Musical Work, Sound Recording and Release-related information to enable the efficient data management of the licensing of Musical Works;
• Data Mismatch Message Suite Version 1.0 provides a uniform mechanism for parties to inform their business partners about data mismatches or data errors being detected when receiving a DDEX message;
• Digital Signature Standard standardises methods for the use of digital signatures in DDEX messages and is based on the W3C Recommendation XML Signature Syntax and Processing;
• DDEX Data Dictionary provides a centrally administered system for the semantic meaning of all the terms used within the DDEX Message Suite Standards; and
• DDEX Party Identifier provides a system for the unique identification of parties, to support the more efficient management of communication within the digital music supply chain.

The standards documentation can be found here.

Does any supporting documentation exist to assist implementations?

Yes. The following supporting documentation is available to organisations that want to evaluate or implement the DDEX standards:

• Overview slide presentation: This is a non-technical description of the messaging standards which is available for business development and corporate development personnel of organisations that are considering implementing any of the DDEX standards.
• Handbooks: A series of handbooks has been created. The first of these gives general advice about implementing DDEX standards. There is also a separate handbook which provides specific implementation assistance for each message suite and documents best practice when carrying out an implementation. The message handbooks document use cases for each message suite in straight forward prose, in a human readable tabular form and in their XML formats.

The supporting documentation can be found here.

Who owns the DDEX standards?

DDEX owns the actual standards. However, all contributions made by DDEX members in creating the standards remain the property of that member. Through the DDEX Operating Agreement (effectively a membership agreement) each member grants DDEX a licence to use the contributions made by its representatives. The full DDEX intellectual property policy which also covers patent issues can be found on the DDEX website.

Do I have to join DDEX to use the DDEX Standards?

No. DDEX standards are publicly available. Licensing of the standard is a separate matter. Further information on licensing the standards can be found here.