At MCN 2008 there will be a group meeting and presentation by Jeff Sedlik for the IP Sig about recent developments by the PLUS (Picture Library Universal System) Coalition.
Below is an announcement today of progress between PLUS and other image metadata standards groups: IPTC and PLUS welcome Metadata Group Guidelines Media release of 10 October 2008 London (England), 10 October 2008 -- The International Press Telecommunications Council and the PLUS Coalition have welcomed metadata processing guidelines for software developers that were recently published by the Metadata Working Group. The Metadata Working Group (http://www.metadataworkinggroup.com) is a consortium of leading companies in the digital media industry that was formed in 2006. Adobe, Apple, Canon, Microsoft, Nokia and Sony have joined forces to produce "Guidelines for Handling Image Metadata." The goal of the group is to increase interoperability of digital image metadata across all software, hardware and services. As creator of the IPTC Information Interchange Model (IIM), IPTC Core and IPTC Extension image metadata standards, IPTC has a stake in this work. The IPTC document published this summer, "Persisting Technical Photo Metadata," called for the preservation of all metadata between systems, which would increase workflow productivity and automation. As creator of the PLUS Standards (Picture Licensing Universal System), the PLUS Coalition also has a stake in this work. PLUS has established universal standards for communicating image rights metadata. IPTC is a PLUS Coalition member and participated in the development of the PLUS standards. The Metadata Working Group's Guidelines address issues of synchronisation between different metadata standards that apply to data found in consumer cameras. IPTC and PLUS note that the general principles outlined in the Guidelines can be applied to all professional-level metadata. IPTC Managing Director Michael Steidl said of the initiative, "Image producers and users are frustrated when metadata disappears between applications, or appears in a different field. At the IPTC PhotoMetadata Conference this summer we identified the need for dialogue with developers. This paper is a huge step forward, and we hope to see further updates which extend to all professional metadata. In the meantime we urge all developers to read and act upon the recommendations in the paper." Jeff Sedlik, President & CEO of the PLUS Coalition, said, "The Metadata Working Group is addressing issues vital to the communication and preservation of metadata, which is critical in implementing the IPTC and PLUS standards. We join IPTC in supporting the adoption of the Guidelines, and look forward to working closely with the Working Group when they begin to address professional metadata issues." The full statement of IPTC and PLUS can be retrieved from www.iptc.org/goto?mwg2008 About the PLUS Coalition The PLUS Coalition, an international non-profit organization, has developed the Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS), a comprehensive system of standards that simplifies and facilitates the communication and management of image rights. PLUS is a collaboration between major stakeholders in all industries involved in creating, distributing, using and preserving images. PLUS supports multi-lingual use, global commerce and the preservation and exchange of cultural heritage. Learn more about PLUS at www.usePLUS.org For more information contact Jeff Sedlik, info at usePLUS.org About IPTC The IPTC, based in London, UK, is a consortium of the world's major news agencies, news publishers and news industry vendors. It develops and maintains technical standards for improved news exchange that are used by virtually every major news organization in the world. Information on all IPTC standards such as the new family of IPTC G2-Standards, the existing NewsML 1, NITF, SportsML, IIM standards and the NewsCodes together with a list of existing members and information on how to join is available at http://www.iptc.org For more information contact Michael Steidl, office at iptc.org
