1 Scope
This document 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 .