1. Internationalization Tag Set (ITS) Version 1.0 The Internationalization Tag Set (ITS) is a set of XML elements and attributes that supports the internationalization and localization of schemas and XML documents. Localization is defined as the adaptation of a product, application or document content to meet the language, cultural and other needs of a specific target market. Internationalization is defined as design and development of a product, application or document content that enables easy localization.

2. ITS provides a set of guidelines for developers of XML formats and content authors on best practices to internationalize XML applications. It offers a "ready-made" set of elements and attributes that one can simply integrate into a new or existing schema. The spcification does not cover “XML localization properties” that is needed for configuring localization workflows or tools to process a specific format. The document is designated as ready for implementation.

3. ITS elements and attributes are organized by “data categories”. At this stage the different data categories are: Translatability – to indicate what parts of a document are translatable or not. Localization Information – to provide notes and information about the content to the localizers. Terminology – to identify terms within the content. Directionality – to indicate the writing direction of runs of text. Ruby – to allow specific phonetic annotation. Elements within text – to identify how elements affect the segmentation of the content. Language identification – to identify the language of the content.

4. Users Schema developers who start a schema from ground up Schema developers who work with an existing schema Companies which provide tools for authoring, translation or other flavors of content-related software solutions Authors, translators and other types of content author

5. ITS Working Group Yves Savourel (ENLASO Corporation),Chair of the group Damien Donlon (Sun Microsystems, Inc.) Martin Dürst (W3C Invited Experts) Poonam Gupta (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing ) Richard Ishida (W3C/ERCIM) Christian Lieske (SAP AG) Sebastian Rahtz (W3C Invited Experts) Francois Richard (HP) Goutam Saha (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) Felix Sasaki (W3C/Keio) Diane Stoick (The Boeing Company), Najib Tounsi (Ecole Mohammadia d'Ingenieurs Rabat (EMI)), Andrzej Zydron (W3C Invited Experts).