The entity or person to whom an ISAN is allocated should have the capacity to permanently attach or link that ISAN to the specific audiovisual work that it identifies

The ISAN is the unique reference number for an audiovisual work. As such it should be included as a data element in any systems used to manage and process information about audiovisual works. Collecting societies, for example, will use the ISAN when they exchange and process information about the use of audiovisual works.

For audiovisual works in digital form (e.g. DVD), the ISAN should be embedded into the appropriate masters of the work and transferred to any subsequent copies made from those masters. The MPEG standards provide a space for the ISAN identifier in the MPEG format.

For audiovisual works in analogue form (e.g. celluloid film), the ISAN should be securely affixed to the master and any other archival copies. For new works, that could involve printing the ISAN on the master negative or on an interpositive. For works already in existence, that would involve securely linking the work and its ISAN in some form of permanent record, archive or inventory. It could also involve physically recording the ISAN on the container of the master version, whenever possible.

The ISAN should also be included in the documentation, packaging and relevant contracts and agreements for an audiovisual work.

Producer's laboratory access letters to distributors should specify the ISAN insertion requirements for commercial prints produced from the lab's internegative or other master material.