Frequently Asked Questions

The minimum required metadata for any registration includes: Title, Title Language, Original Language, Release Date, Country of Origin, Status, Approximate Length, Registrant/Administrators, Mode (Audio Visual, Audio, etc.), and Referent Type (Movie, TV, etc.) Additional fields are conditionally required depending on the entries made in the required fields. For example, if you are creating a Edit record, the Parent (Movie or Episode) would be required as well. See EIDR  Documentation for all the details. 

No. EIDR is not a metadata provider.

EIDR supplies a persistent, globally unique identifier that allows organizations to link, match, and manage their metadata across systems and partners. It works alongside metadata providers and internal systems, helping ensure that all data refers to the correct work and its related versions.

The metadata collected is intentionally limited to the values needed to de-duplicate records. EIDR is intended to be a registry only. No single metadata provider will be the source of everything for everyone. Think of EIDR as the ISBN of media and entertainment. 

EIDR is designed to work alongside existing metadata providers, internal databases, and operational systems.

It does not replace those systems. Instead, it provides a consistent identifier that allows them to stay aligned, even when data is coming from multiple sources or moving across different platforms and territories.

EIDR provides a stable, persistent identifier that systems can rely on when processing and matching works.

In automated and AI-driven workflows, this is critical. Without a consistent identifier, systems must rely on titles and metadata, which can vary across versions, languages, and partners.

EIDR helps:

• reduce incorrect matches between different works
• prevent the same work from being treated as multiple titles
• provide a reliable reference point for integrating data from multiple sources

This creates a stronger foundation for automation and helps improve the quality of downstream systems.

EIDR is not itself an ISO standard. However, it is a member of the DOI Foundation, the organization that governs and manages the federation of DOI Registration Agencies. The DOI Foundation serves as the Registration Authority for the ISO standard ISO 26324, which defines the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) system.

The DOI system provides both the technical and governance framework for assigning and using persistent, interoperable identifiers across digital networks. As a DOI Registration Agency operating within this framework, EIDR adheres to the policies and requirements established under ISO 26324.

You can – for some things. However, nobody works alone and your distribution partners don’t use your IDs. Many of your partners are already EIDR members. EIDR enables automation and drives efficiency, especially when shared between members. EIDR behaves as the Rosetta Stone of media assets. If a content creator registers all of it’s assets with EIDR, they can then share the EIDR ID with all of their distribution partners. The distribution partner can automate, using the EIDR ID as a definitive way to obtain essential information for the asset’s identification. 

EIDR is not an outside entity, unrelated to the M&E industry. EIDR is an independent non-profit which was established by and is still governed by the major studios, technology, and industry service providers. The EIDR registry holds essential metadata about media assets, which makes identification and distribution more efficient and allows for automation between separate companies.

You are working with industry partners. You don’t, however, allow your partners free and open access to your internal systems. EIDR serves as the connector, by identifying publicly available title, edit, and manifestation records so that you can automate delivery, distribution, discoverability, and monetization of your assets. Automation and content delivery at scale can only be done efficiently with a shared industry identifier. 

Once your works have EIDR IDs, you can:

• Maintain consistent identification across versions (edits, languages, formats)
• Reduce manual reconciliation when working with partners
• Improve the accuracy of deliveries and reporting
• Provide a stable reference point for automation and system integration
• Improve discoverability for your works.

You do not need to wait for widespread adoption to realize these benefits.

EIDR begins delivering value as soon as your works are registered.

Once an EIDR ID is assigned, it provides a persistent reference that can be used across your systems, vendors, and distribution partners. This helps ensure that all versions of a work remain connected and consistently identified, even as they move across different platforms and territories.

You do not need complete market coverage or a fully registered catalog to benefit. Most organizations start with titles that are actively being produced or distributed and expand over time based on their needs.

No.

EIDR provides value within your own systems and workflows from the start. As your works move through the supply chain, EIDR IDs can be shared with partners, making it easier to align data across organizations.

As more companies adopt EIDR, these benefits increase, but they are not dependent on full ecosystem participation.

EIDR provides value within your own systems and workflows from the start.

Once your works have EIDR IDs, you can use them to maintain consistency across versions, reduce internal reconciliation, and improve the accuracy of your data.

As your works move through the supply chain, EIDR IDs can be shared with partners as part of standard metadata. This makes it easier for partners to align with your data, even if they are not yet using EIDR themselves.

As adoption grows, these benefits increase, but they are not dependent on full participation across the ecosystem.

As audiovisual works are:

• localized into multiple languages
• edited for different markets
• distributed across many platforms

…maintaining consistent identity becomes more difficult.

EIDR provides a persistent identifier that connects all versions of a work, helping organizations manage this complexity more efficiently and with greater accuracy.

EIDR is designed to represent works at multiple levels, including the original work, edits, and specific versions.

This allows you to:

• link localized versions (dubs and subtitles) to the original work
• distinguish between different edits (theatrical, broadcast, airline, etc.)
• track how a work evolves across formats and territories

By maintaining these relationships, EIDR helps ensure that all versions of a work remain connected, even as they are distributed in different contexts.

No.

Most organizations start with:

• new productions
• titles currently being distributed
• works involved in active workflows

From there, coverage expands over time based on business needs. There is no requirement to register your full historical catalog upfront.

The organizations that create and distribute audiovisual works are the most authoritative source of information about those works.

By contributing directly, companies ensure:

• higher data accuracy
• correct version relationships
• consistency across territories and platforms

This approach complements other metadata sources by providing a stable identity layer that those systems can reference.

EIDR terminology was set up to be universal to support as many use cases as possible. We offer support to help you find what you need, register your assets via best practices, and to map to the appropriate terminology in the registry. However, participants are encouraged to request new terminology if a use case truly is not supported by the registry. 

EIDR includes a broad and growing set of international film and television works, including many non-English titles. That said, EIDR is not a pre-packaged metadata product or licensed dataset.

EIDR works differently. It is an industry identifier system, where the most accurate and authoritative data comes directly from the organizations that create and distribute audiovisual works. The value comes from ensuring that your catalog is consistently identified across all versions, territories, and partners.

The registry is curated by industry experts who have been vetted to ensure that they are providing high quality data. EIDR does not have the concept of record ownership. However, if your organization is the best source of up-to-date metadata for a record, you can request the role of Metadata Authority. This allows the experts in your organization to maintain the record. 

EIDR is a public registry. If a record is introduced, it becomes a publicly available record.

There is one limited exception. 'In Development' status is used by companies who temporarily need to keep a record under wraps, but still require an ID. In this case, the company would create the record, marking the status as 'In Development.'  When the title is announced to the public, the company should change the status to 'Valid', making it part of the public registry.

If you choose to use the 'In Development' (confidential) status, you will need to be aware that your process and internal controls are absolutely vital to ensuring your records stay confidential until you are ready for them to be shared.

Contact EIDR Support if you need information about using the 'In Development' and 'Valid' statuses.

The Registry provides free access to lookup a record using its EIDR ID. If you want to search the registry for content but you don’t have the EIDR ID, you will need to login using Google, LinkedIn, or EIDR credentials.

More extensive query and search capability including programmatic interface to the Registry is available for an annual fee. To facilitate widespread adoption of this critical service, EIDR offers very favorable terms of use including the ability to take complete snapshots of the Registry and re-use data obtained from the Registry.

EIDR is run by a coalition of leaders in the movie and television industry. It is run as an independent non-profit business association, committed to providing an essential service that benefits the whole industry. 

No. An EIDR ID is purely functional without any implication of ownership, making it persistent enough to remain the same despite any change in control or ownership of the underlying asset. The metadata associated with an EIDR ID is functional in nature, serving to identify the asset without aggregating a wider variety of commercially valuable metadata about the asset. 

No – it is inexpensive for most companies, especially if you’re making the most of your membership. EIDR membership is offered with scaled pricing, depending on the annual income of the member company. All paid memberships come with the following benefits:

• Unlimited API Access to register IDs, look up, and edit
• Unlimited ID creation
• Unlimited sharing of EIDR ID and corresponding metadata
• Free training
• Free technical support
• Free integration support
• Inclusion in EIDR working groups
• Unlimited use of EIDR documentation and case studies
• Offline registry copy (1 copy per organization)
• Free admission to EIDR events
• Display your company logo on EIDR website

Check out our Pricing page for more information.

 Send us a message support@eidr.org.