Producers' Collecting Society Message Suite Standard (PCS)

"What is PCS?"

The PCS Message Suite - available in Version 1.0 as published on 2007-12-19 - was developed by Producers' Collecting Societies under the auspices of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

This standard provides a uniform method for the exchange of sound recording, music videos and related sales data between Producers' Collecting Societies (PCS). The exchange of such data between PCSs is required to meet the requirements of bilateral agreements between the PCSs that administer the rights of independent producers in several territories.

The suite of messages contained in this standard provides the basis for communication between Producers' Collecting Societies.The standard concentrates on the five messages that have been identified to provide the most benefit to PCSs:

• A message to claims an interest in a sound recording or music video to another PCS. Such a message also needs to provide metadata about the sound recording/music video;
• A message to revoke such a claim;
• A message to request such sound recording claims from another PCS;
• A message to report sales amongst PCSs and
• A message to report revenues between Producers' Collecting Societies.

The information exchanged through these messages can then be used by the PCS network to correctly distribute revenues to producers of sound recordings and music videos.

PCS Dictionary for Version 1.0 of the PCS Message Suite Specification

This draft version of the PCS Data Dictionary/Ontology contains the names and descriptions of every data Element used in the PCS messages, organised into a hierarchical framework which can be navigated in HTML, starting and finishing at any point. Its aim is to provide a comprehensive, consistent, structured and extensible dictionary of terms to support the consistent global development and use of PCS messages.

Each Element is presented, on a single HTML page, with the following attributes:

• Headword (1)
• Description (1)
• Synonym(s) (0-n)
• Relationships (1-n)

Elements are linked in a hierarchical ("parent-child") structure, with other links shown where appropriate Element Relationships. The whole Dictionary is also presented (Headwords and Descriptions only) in a single alphabetical list.

A user can enter the Dictionary at any point and navigate by hyperlinks. Click here to go to the alphabetical list.

From the alphabetical list, click on any highlighted Element name to go to the page of that Element. From within that page, click on any other linked Element to go to its page: by this means a user can navigate all links in the Dictionary. Alternatively, click on any letter in the A-Z list at the top of any Dictionary page to go to a page showing an alphabetical listing of Elements beginning with that letter or number, from which a selection can be made.

Each page also provides a list of parents, children and other close relatives of the Element. Click on any of these to go to its page.

To go to the top of the Dictionary hierarchy go to Element.

For further information about PCS, please contact: