Digital Data Exchange (DDEX) is an international standards-setting organization that was formed in 2006[1] to develop standards that enable companies to communicate information along the digital supply chain more efficiently[2] by:
- Developing standard message and file formats (XML or flat-file)
- Developing choreographies for specific business transactions
- Developing communication protocols (SFTP or based on web services)
- Working with industry bodies to create a more efficient supply chain.
DDEX currently focuses on the music industry and has 3 types of membership: charter, full and associate members, with about 100 members.[3]
Business transactions addressed
DDEX's standards[4] address a series of business transactions, including:
- Release deliveries
- Sales/usage reporting
- Communication with and amongst Music Licensing Companies
- Licensing of musical works
- Collection of information on sound recordings and musical works in the recording studio
Using DDEX standards
All DDEX standards are available from the DDEX Knowledge Base, with complete documentation.[5] DDEX has also created a series of free introductory videos.[6]
Implementers that want to use any of the DDEX standards are required to take out a software licence.[7] This licence is a royalty-free click wrap licence that grants implementers access to the intellectual property embedded in the DDEX standards.